MOUNT PLEASANT, MI – The Northern Illinois University baseball team scored double-digit runs for the second time this season Saturday, but it was not enough as the Central Michigan Chippewas won a 14-10 slugfest at Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium.
"We battled until the bitter end today," said head coach
Mike Kunigonis. "It was a disappointing weekend for us. We had more than our fair share of opportunities but couldn't get it done. We'll re-group and prepare for our upcoming homestand."
Central Michigan (19-7, 5-1 MAC) broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the fifth inning. With two runners on base and two out, Evan Kratt cleared the bases with a double off of
Tristan Michaels (Barrington, Ill./Triton College) to put Central Michigan up 3-1.
NIU (7-20, 3-3 MAC) answered with four runs in the top of the sixth to take a 5-3 lead.
Tommy Szczasny (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln-Way North) and
Jake Dunham (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) led off the frame with back-to-back singles. After a strikeout,
Kam Smith (Colonial Beach, Va./The Steward School) cracked a double to centerfield to score Szczasny and put the Huskies within a run at 3-2. Smith's double knocked Central Michigan starting pitcher Tyler Hankins out of the game.
Dylan Lonteen (Peoria, Ill./Illinois Central College) hit a three-run home run off of reliever Garrett Willis to put the Huskies ahead for the first time. Willis then retired
Josh Mutter (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way North) and
Malik Peters (Calumet City, Ill./Mount Carmel) to end the inning.
The Chippewas blew the game wide open with 10 runs in the bottom of the sixth. Central Michigan took the lead on a Jason Sullivan bases loaded walk that made the score 6-5. Chase Rollin also drew a walk to give Central Michigan a 7-5 lead. The Chippewas then got two-RBI hits from Kratt, Zach Heeke, and Zavier Warren to take a 13-5 advantage. Central Michigan added another run in the eighth to go up 14-5.
The Huskies attempted a rally in the ninth. NIU loaded the bases on a
Brendan Joyce (South Elgin, Ill./Parkland College) walk and one-out singles by
Wyatt O'Brien (Monroe, Mich./Saint Mary Catholic Central) and
Connor Montgomery (Newport Beach, Calif./Canyon). Smith then reached on a run-scoring error, with a Lonteen RBI single making the score 14-7. Mutter then cleared the bases with a three-RBI double to put NIU within four at 14-10, but was thrown out at third base trying to stretch out his hit into a triple.
Malik Peters (Calumet City, Ill./Mount Carmel) then grounded out to end the ballgame.
Szczasny was 3-for-4 in the game with an RBI. Lonteen and Mutter each had three RBI, with Lonteen going 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Smith was also 2-for-5 with two runs.
NIU opens a six-game homestand on Wednesday, April 3 with a 3 p.m. game against Milwaukee at Ralph McKinzie Field.
--NIU--
