April 29, 2009

Final Stats

Final Box

DeKalb, Ill. - The Northern Illinois baseball team fell to Valparaiso 12-2 on Wednesday afternoon at Ralph McKinzie Field as the Crusaders (21-19) scored 12 runs on 13 hits, eight walks, and five Huskie errors to drop NIU's record to 15-28 on the year.

The Crusaders took a 3-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back. In the frame, Dan DeBruin started with a lead-off walk, Kyle Muhlsteff singled through the left side, and then Matt Lenski hit a bloop double that left fielder Jordin Hood (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Lake Zurich) just missed catching on a dive to score the first run. NIU starter Kyle Glancy (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park-River Forest) hit the next batter Josh Wallace with an errant pitch to load the bases for Steven Scoby, who reached on an RBI fielder's choice force out at second. Andrew Quinnette then singled up the middle to score the third run before Glancy got Damon McCormick to ground into a 4-6-3 double play to end the damage.

"The first inning set the tone for the game and we did not respond like we have been doing a lot this year," said NIU head coach Ed Mathey. "All of a sudden they add another run in the fourth and then get a four-spot in the fifth. Unfortunately, we could not get anything going on offense. We will have to regroup and figure out how to get things right again."

Glancy then settled down for two innings and the offense picked up a run for him in the third on a two-out RBI single to right by Joe Buonavolanto (Willowbrook, Ill./Hinsdale South) that scored Pat Minogue (Crystal Lake, Ill./Central), who reached on a walk. But McCormick started the top of the fourth for Valparaiso with a walk, stole second after an out and advanced to third on catcher Brett Frantini's (Minooka, Ill./Minooka) throw that sailed into centerfield. He then scored on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Gaedele.

In the fifth inning, the Crusaders put the game out of reach with four runs on five hits. With one out, Valparaiso strung together five straight singles by Lenski, Wallace, Scoby, Quinnette, and McCormick to score three runs. Then the Crusaders scored the fourth run on a wild pitch to increase their lead to 8-1 before adding another run in the seventh, two in the eighth and another in the ninth.

Valparaiso starter Tyler Deetjen (1-1) earned the win by throwing five innings with five strikeouts, surrendering an earned run on two hits and two walks. Glancy (0-2) took the loss after allowing seven earned runs on 10 hits and two walks in 4.1 innings with three strikeouts.

"The lead-off walk got Kyle in trouble again in the fourth and that is something he needs to work on," Mathey said. "He has a good arm and had his curveball working well today, but he needs to continue to work on his command."

Despite giving up 12 runs, the Huskie pitchers struck out 10 batters for the fourth time this season, led by Zach Oates (Wheaton, Ill./North), who fanned four in 1.1 innings of work with a walk and did not surrender a hit or a run. Oates has now had four appearances this season in which every out he has recorded has been a strikeout.

"That was good to see out of Zach," said Mathey. "We need to have that out of him and we need him to continue to pitch like that. He threw the ball well today."

Gaedele led the Crusader offense by going 2-for-3 with a run and three RBI, while Muhlsteff, Scoby, and Quinnette each had two hits, a run and two RBI. Lenski also added two hits and an RBI along with two runs.

Nick Badgley (McHenry, Ill./McHenry C.C.) led the NIU offense for the third game in a row, going 1-for-3 with an RBI, as he is now 4-for-10 with four RBI in his last three contests. Buonavolanto also had a hit and an RBI, while Troy White (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young) had the only other Huskie hit.

"Nick is going up there and getting his swings in," Mathey said. "He is playing to win and that's good. I'm very happy with him and hope he continues to play well like this."

The Huskies next head to Mount Pleasant, Mich. for a weekend Mid-American Conference three-game series against Central Michigan (19-23, 8-10 MAC) with games on Friday at 2 p.m. CT, Saturday at 1 p.m., and Sunday at 12 p.m.