Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Northern Illinois
Cardinal Comeback Falls Short In Saturday Loss To NIU
May 12, 2007 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. - For the second consecutive day, Northern Illinois racked up 13 hits to Ball State's seven. And for the second consecutive day, the Cardinal baseball team lost to the Huskies.
Ball State (16-33, 5-18 MAC) made Saturday's contest closer, but the result was a 4-3 loss at Ball Diamond. The Cardinals scored two runs in the eighth inning and put the tying run on base in the ninth, but Northern Illinois (29-19, 15-8 MAC) held on to secure the second game of the weekend series.
The third and final game of the series is slated for Sunday at 1 p.m.
Matt Stoeklen led Ball State with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate Saturday, and five other Cardinals recorded one hit each. Northern Illinois' Daniel Jewett and Jordin Hood led all players with three hits each.
Northern Illinois jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning following an RBI double from Scott Simon and an RBI single from Hood.
Ball State staring pitcher Richie Fralick then settled in and allowed just one more run - a fourth inning solo homer from Hood. Fralick allowed 11 hits in six innings of work, but he limited Northern Illinois' run production and kept the Cardinals in the game.
Ball State picked up its first run in the third inning on a Stoeklen sacrifice fly, and the Cardinals trailed 3-1 when Fralick left the game after six innings. Northern Illinois tacked on an unearned run in the seventh to stretch its lead to 4-1 before Ball State put together a rally in the eighth.
Zach Dygert and Ryan Chenoweth got things started in the eighth with back-to-back singles, and Matt Gard followed with a single of his own to plate the first run of the inning. Jeremy Hazelbaker then brought another run home on a fielder's choice ground ball, cutting the Huskie lead to one run.
After holding Northern Illinois scoreless in the top of the ninth, the Cardinals had an opportunity in the bottom of the inning. Stoeklen reached on a one-out single but was stranded at first base after two fly outs.
Northern Illinois starter Matt Jernstad went 6.2 innings to earn the win and allowed just one run on three hits despite walking seven Cardinal batters. Fralick took the loss for Ball State. Matt German pitched the final 1.1 innings for Northern Illinois to earn his 12th save.
Dygert and Wayne Bond each recorded one hit and drew two walks in the game. Bond also added his 16th stolen base and has now hit safely in nine straight contests.
