March 26, 2006
Box Score
ATHENS, Ohio - The visiting Northern Illinois Huskies pounded out 16 hits and took advantage of six Ohio errors as they took the rubber game of the Mid-American Conference series from the Bobcats 10-7 Sunday afternoon in Bob Wren Stadium.
Despite an early deficit, the Bobcats (6-9, 1-2 MAC) were able to forge a 5-2 lead after four innings, but NIU (7-13, 2-1 MAC) scored in four of the five remaining frames to take the game and the series.
The Huskies scored single tallies in each of the first two innings, and threatened again in the third with runners on second and third with one out, but Bobcat starter John Angelicchi got out of the jam to keep the deficit at two runs.
After two innings without any noise, Ohio sent eight batters to the plate in the third and pushed four runs home. Dusty Hammond registered a one-out single to left and Anthony Gressick immediately followed with a line shot to the right-center gap to sent Hammond home. Jon Vondrell and Willie Walker then drew walks to load the bases for Kirk Payne, who struck out swinging. With Hayden Johnston now up, a passed ball allowed Gressick to score for Ohio's second run, then Johnston sent a single to left and Vondrell and Walker scored to put the Bobcats ahead 4-2.
The Bobcats were able to move ahead 5-2 with another run in the fourth. Bryant Witt led off with an infield single and moved on to third when NIU hurler Trevor Feeney threw past the bag on a pickoff attempt. Witt then scored on an infield grounder by Hammond for a three-run advantage.
The two teams then traded runs in the fifth inning as the Huskies got a two-out hit for theirs and the Bobcat rookie catcher Chris Klimko recorded his first collegiate RBI as he drove a two-out single to center to make it 6-3.
The Huskies would send 10 batters to the plate in the sixth, however, and were able to chase Angelicchi. The Bobcat starter gave up two hits, hit two batters, and his defense committed two errors behind him as the Huskies tied the game 6-6 before Bobcat Head Coach Joe Carbone went to the bullpen. Ohio reliever Zach Elmer inherited the bases loaded with one out and was able to get out of the inning with only one more runner scoring as he gave up a bases-loaded walk to make it 7-6 in NIU's favor.
The visitors added a pair in the eighth and one more in the ninth to extend to a 10-6 advantage and the Bobcats were only able to rally for one run in their last at-bat as Vondrell reached on an error and later scored on a single by Jared Willis to provide the final run of the game.
Angelicchi (0-3) took the loss for Ohio. He allowed seven runs - six earned - on 10 hits in 5 1-3 innings and recorded four strikeouts against two walks.
"We just couldn't make the plays behind John (Angelicchi)," Carbone said. "I thought he was pitching pretty well, but when we have to have the pitcher get five or six outs in an inning, that hurts our pitching."
Elmer didn't allow a hit in his brief stint and Kurt Smith allowed three runs - one earned - on six hits in three innings of work in his collegiate debut.
Walker went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead all Bobcat hitters. Klimko registered two hits in his first career start behind the plate.
Feeny (2-0) was credited with the victory for Northern Illinois. He allowed six runs - four earned - on 10 hits in 5 1-3 innings with seven strikeouts and three walks.
Matt German tossed the last 1 2-3 innings and earned his third save of the year.
Pat Minogue, Scott Simon and Brian Toner all recorded three hits for the Huskies.
NIU out-hit Ohio 50-36 in the three-game series.
Ohio's six errors on the day were a season high. The two teams combined to commit 20 errors in the series.
"Our defense let us down," Carbone said. "We're not doing a good job of fielding the ball and that is really hurting us. We need to be a better defensive team than we are right now."
The Bobcats will draw an end to their season-long 13-game homestand when they play host to Youngstown State on Wednesday, March 29. First pitch is set for 6 p.m., in Bob Wren Stadium.
