TEMPE, Ariz. - The Northern Illinois baseball team was unable to complete the tough task of defeating Collegiate Baseball's No. 5th ranked Arizona State Sun Devils to open the 2010 season Friday night at ASU's Packard Stadium as NIU dropped an 8-0 decision in the first of a four-game series.
The Huskies (0-1) could not overcome an early surge by ASU (1-0) that gave the Sun Devils seven combined runs in the second, third and fourth frames. Designated hitter Zach Wilson got the surge started with a solo home run in the second inning. Second baseman Zack MacPhee drove in a run with a triple in the third inning and later scored on left fielder Matt Newman's three-run blast. MacPhee also delivered an RBI double in the fourth and right fielder Kole Calhoun capped the frame with an RBI groundout.
"We made mistakes and they capitalized tonight," NIU coach Ed Mathey said. "That's what good teams do. We were limited on our chances offensively and didn't take advantage of the few chances we had. I still thought we had a decent approach at the plate, but we saw some good arms tonight. Their starter, Blair, is being talked about as a possible first round pick in the MLB draft. He worked ahead in the count and made it real tough on our hitters."
NIU had an opportunity to take the lead first in the second inning after senior first baseman Dave Reynolds singled and sophomore third baseman Troy White was hit by lefty Seth Blair's errant pitch to start the inning, but both stayed put for the remainder of the frame.
The Huskies' best opportunity after that came in the fourth after a pair of two-out walks to junior designated hitter Joe Etcheverry and sophomore left fielder Alex Beckmann. But it was again for naught as sophomore catcher Brett Frantini grounded out to end the threat.
Arizona State later added a run in the eighth on an RBI groundout by center fielder Johnny Ruettiger.
Blair (1-0) earned the win after throwing five scoreless innings allowing three hits and two walks with five strikeouts. NIU senior lefty Chuck Lukanen took the loss (0-1) after allowing seven earned runs on seven hits and eight walks with four strikeouts in 5.2 innings.
"All in all, Chuck battled," said Mathey. "He wasn't as sharp at the beginning, but made some adjustments near the end of his outing that could bode well for his next start."
MacPhee led ASU with a 3-for-4 night. He added two RBI, a run, a walk and a steal, as well.
Reynolds led the way for the Huskies by going 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak that he carried over from last season to 11 games.
