Down 7-0 after the fourth inning, Northern Illinois rallied to within one run following a four-run eighth inning but it was not enough to overcome the early deficit, as the Huskies fell 10-7 to Valparaiso Tuesday afternoon.
On a soggy Emory G. Bauer Field, the Crusaders (20-27) jumped all over Brian Smith in the first inning, scoring four runs on five hits. The first four Crusaders reached base on singles to start the game, as runs came off the bats of Kyle Gaedele and Robbie Robinson. A strikeout later, Justin Frane singled on a hit-and-run to bring in the third run, which set up David Klein, who brought in the fourth on a sacrifice fly.
“It came down to the fact that they did a nice job with the bats early,” said NIU head coach Ed Mathey. “Their pitcher was throwing the ball to the umpire’s strike zone and we threw to a different zone. We didn’t make the adjustment early enough.”
Valparaiso plated two more in the second and another in the fourth before the Huskies (19-28) scratched a run in the fifth on a two-out single to left by Brian Riegler, scoring Joe Etcheverry after a leadoff double.
NIU chipped away at the deficit again with a pair of tallies in the sixth to pull within four runs, 7-3. Jordin Hood delivered a two-out double to the left field line to score Joe Buonavolanto, who reached on a one-out single. Etcheverry followed with a sharp single past first baseman Will Hagel’s glove to score Hood.
“Anytime you are chasing runs in a baseball game it’s tough,” Mathey said. “Our kids kept battling and Brian settled down. There were a couple times that we didn’t make plays and that could have changed the game. Our hitters came back in the fifth and sixth though and it was good to see Kyle Glancy hold us in the game on the mound. He gave us an opportunity to come back.”
Valparaiso answered with a run in the sixth on a Steven Scoby sacrifice fly before NIU’s four-run eighth narrowed the Crusaders margin to one run, 8-7. Buonavolanto started it with a single to center, and an out later, Hood singled through the left side. Etcheverry followed with a walk to load the bases for Brett Frantini, but he struck out swinging. Marvin Sanchez stepped to the plate and drew a 3-1 count. He then appeared to take ball four low, but home plate umpire Kevin Wirth called it a strike, much to the dismay of Mathey, who was promptly ejected for arguing the call.
“Credit goes to Ray [Napientek] in the third base coach’s box for the rally,” said Mathey. “I just didn’t feel that we were having an opportunity to swing our bats at pitches that were hittable. What ensued happened, and I was really pleased to see our kids take it as a challenge and rise to the challenge.”
Mathey’s ejection fired up his Huskies, as they continued the rally with two outs. Sanchez ended up taking the walk after all to force in Buonavolanto. After Austen Siwiec relieved starter Tyler Deetjen, Riegler singled to short stop Kyle Muhlsteff to score Hood. Alex Beckmann backed it up with a single to first that Hagel dove to stop, but his throw from his knees was low and rolled into the Valparaiso dugout. With the tying run at third and go-ahead run at second, Jamison Wells roped a screaming line drive, but unfortunately, it was right at Muhlsteff to keep the Huskies down one run.
“We had a great chance, got a couple clutch hits and hustle plays,” Mathey said. “From my vantage point, it looked like Jamison hit a rope but it was to the short stop and he made a nice play.”
The Crusaders then distanced themselves once again with two runs in their half of the eighth. Muhlsteff doubled off Tom Zelasko with one out and Scoby reached after being hit by a pitch. Andy Deain then entered the game, and following a wild pitch moving the runners up, surrendered a single up the middle to Gaedele to score both runners.
NIU did not go down easily in the ninth against Bryce Shafer, who entered to close the game. Buonavolanto and Dave Reynolds started the ninth with singles to bring the tying run to the plate, but it was all the Huskies could muster, as Shafer earned his first save of the season
“We dug ourselves too big a hole early though,” said Mathey. “When you’re playing catch up, it’s important to maintain being down by one run. We got the first two guys on base and tying run at the plate again. One of these times we are going to come through.”
Deetjen (3-2) picked up the win with 14 strikeouts, despite giving up seven runs, six earned, on nine hits and two walks in 7.2 innings. Smith (0-3) took the loss after allowing seven runs, six earned, on seven hits and two walks in four innings.
Hood led the offense with three hits, two runs, an RBI and stolen base. Buonavolanto also had three hits and two runs, giving him eight hits in his last 10 at-bats after Sunday’s school record tying 5-for-5 performance. Additionally, Riegler drove in a pair of runs on two hits, while Etcheverry scored two runs on two hits with an RBI and walk.
“Joe is swinging the bat real well right now,” Mathey said. “It’s good to see him rebound from his early struggles. Hopefully he can stay locked in. Riegler did a good job today, swung the bat well, which was good to see.”
The Huskies head to Milwaukee,Wis. tomorrow to face the Milwaukee Panthers at Miller Park, home of Major League Baseball’s Milwaukee Brewers. The two teams will play approximately 30 minutes after completion of the noon Brewers versus Atlanta Braves game.
