Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Northern Illinois
Baseball Drops Two Games Saturday To Northern Illinois
May 10, 2008 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Ball State baseball team dropped a pair of Mid-American Conference games Saturday in a doubleheader with Northern Illinois. The Cardinals lost Saturday's first game 4-1 before dropping a 7-6 decision in game two at Ball Diamond.
Ball State third baseman Matt Stoeklen posted the best offensive day for the Cardinals. The senior tallied four hits -- including two home runs -- to go along with three RBI.
With the pair of losses, Ball State falls to 26-20 (11-9 MAC) on the season, while Northern Illinois improves to 23-23 (14-9 MAC).
The teams played a doubleheader Saturday after Friday's series opener was postponed because of wet field conditions. The third and final game of the weekend series is slated for 1 p.m. Sunday at Ball Diamond. Ball State will hold its Senior Day ceremony prior to the game at approximately 12:30 p.m.
Game One Recap
In the opening game Saturday, the fifth inning proved to be decisive. Northern Illinois broke open a 1-1 tie in the fifth frame on a two-RBI single from shortstop Bobby Stevens. The Huskies later plated an insurance run in the ninth and held on for the win.
The Cardinals had their best opportunity to break into the Northern Illinois lead in the eighth inning. A walk and a double from designated hitter Zach Dygert put runners at second and third with two outs, but Northern Illinois starter Trevor Feeney secured the final out of his day to end that threat.
Feeney earned the win after allowing one run on five hits in eight innings. Reliever Andy Deain came on in the ninth to pick up the save.
Ball State center fielder Wayne Bond Jr. led the Cardinals with two hits in the game, while Stoeklen recorded the team's lone RBI.
Northern Illinois grabbed an early lead with a run in the first inning. Then, after two scoreless frames, Stoeklen belted a solo home run in the fourth inning that tied the game 1-1. Northern Illinois, however, never lost the lead they took the following inning.
Stevens led Northern Illinois with two hits and a pair of RBI in the game. Left fielder Jeff Thomas and right fielder Danny Reed also logged two hits each for the Huskies.
Game Two Recap
Saturday's second game was a back-and-forth contest that was tied 5-5 through six innings. Northern Illinois, however, changed that with two runs in the seventh. A two-run home run off the bat of third baseman Jordin Hood gave the Huskies a 7-5 lead.
Ball State managed a run in the bottom of the seventh on a solo home run from Bond, his team-leading 12th of the year. But the Cardinals could not get any closer. The Northern Illinois bullpen held Ball State scoreless over the final two innings to preserve the win.
Stoeklen continued his hot hitting to lead the Cardinals with three hits and two RBI in the game. The third baseman logged a double and blasted another home run to bring his season total to seven. Designated hitter Kolbrin Vitek added two hits and a pair of RBI for Ball State.
After Northern Illinois jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, Ball State responded with three runs in the second. Stoeklen's two-run blast tied the score, and second baseman T.J. Baumet followed with his fifth home run of the season to give Ball State a 3-2 edge.
Northern Illinois, however, knotted the game in the third on a solo homer from Stevens and then plated a run in the fifth and another in the sixth to open up a 5-3 lead.
Ball State then tied the score again on a two-run homer from Vitek, his fourth of the season, that evened the game through six innings before the Huskies' two-run seventh.
Hood led Northern Illinois offensively with three hits and four RBI in the game. Starting pitcher Adam Holdenrid earned the win on the mound, allowing five runs in 6.2 innings. Deain picked up his second save of the day for the Huskies.
