March 1, 2014

Final Stats

NIU-SIU G1 Box Score 

NIU-SIU G2 Box Score 

MARION, Ill. - The Northern Illinois baseball team wrapped up its series at Southern Illinois Saturday in a doubleheader at Rent One Park. The Huskies (1-8-1) pitching staff again played big as it only allowed five runs to the Salukis (7-3) but NIU was unable to capitalize on its chance to fall 3-1 in game one and and 2-1 in game two.

“Our starting pitchers really gave us a chance to win both games today. Klono was good and Jordan Ruckman competed out there,” said Head Coach Ed Mathey. “Our defense did a nice job to limit Southern Illinois to five runs today. It’s just unfortunate to do that and not win the weekend. We have to be more opportunistic in our chances and sustain ourselves offensively to grind out wins.”

GAME ONE
Originally scheduled to pitch the third game of the series, Alex Klonowski (Kearney, Mo./Kearney) started on the mound in the first game of the day and pitched 6.0 innings, scattering three hits and only allowing one run with four strikeouts to his credit.

Klonowski was his own best friend at the plate as he drove in Northern Illinois’ only run of the contest in the first inning of the game. Sophomore Tommy Hook (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township) led the game off with a single and was driven home by Klonowski to put the Huskies on top, 1-0.

Southern Illinois tied the game in the bottom of the second inning as leadoff batter Ryan Casillas walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Donny Duschinsky tripled down the right field line with one out to tie the game, 1-1.

After posting zeroes in the following 4.5 innings, SIU capitalized on its chances in the bottom of the seventh with two runs to take a 3-1 lead. Relief pitcher TJ Schrader (Mackinaw, Ill./Illinois Central) pitched 0.1 innings, getting the first batter out on a pop fly but allowing a walk and single to put runners on first and second. Ben Neumann (Verona, Wis./Verona Area) entered for Schrader and gave up a single, and after an error in the infield, the runs crossed the plate to give the Salukis the advantage.

After Neumann’s single, Matt Williams (Geneva, Ill./Geneva) entered and closed the game for NIU, pitching 1.2 innings and not allowing a single hit. Williams surrendered one walk in the effort.

Klonowski led the Huskies at the plate, going 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI to his credit. Both NIU and SIU recorded five hits in the contest.

GAME TWO
Sophomore Jordan Ruckman (Kankakee, Ill./Herscher) was named the starting pitcher for NIU in the series finale, hurling his best effort of the season in six innings of work. The junior scattered eight hits in the effort and struck out two batters while allowing the only two runs of the game.

SIU scored both of their runs in the fourth inning as they accounted for three hits in the frame. J.C. DeMuri doubled to drive in the first run while Jake Welch flied out to left field to score DeMuri on a sacrifice fly.

The Huskies mounted a comeback with two outs on them in the bottom of the eighth inning. With Carl Russell (Grayslake, Ill./Grayslake North) on first base after a fielder’s choice, Justin Fletcher (Pekin, Ill./Illinois Central) singled to put two runners on.

After a double steal, Klonowski reached base on an error and sent Russell home to cut the lead in half, 2-1. NIU was unable to sustain the inning however as Micah McCulloch (Rochelle, Ill./Rochelle Township) ended the inning on a fielder’s choice.

Senior Anthony Andres (Western Springs, Ill./St. Rita) pitched 2.0 innings for the Huskies in relief, only allowing one hit in the outing while striking out one batter. Brian Sisler (DeKalb, Ill./DeKalb) finished the game 2-for-3 with a walk at the plate, while also helping turn two double plays defensively.

The Huskies will return to action Friday, March 7 as it begins their annual spring break trip — a 10-day, 10-game quest — at No. 3 Oregon State in a four-game series. NIU will follow up at No. 13 Cal Poly March 11 for a three-game set and will close the trip back in Illinois for another three-game series at Bradley, starting March 15.