NIU Baseball takes 2 out of 3 from SIU

Going down to SIU, I think the team was expecting to at least take 2 out of 3 from the Salukis, and that is exactly what happened. SIU did enter the season ranked #33 by Collegiate baseball and we faced their ace Cody Adams in the first game. It was a strong pitching performance for us, winning 3-1. Adams for Southern Illinois had 10 K's without any walks and still lost! Good job Huskies.

Game 1 Top performers:

Hitting

#11 SS Bobby Stevens - 2 for 4, with a (leadoff) HR, a double, 2 runs and an RBI
#4 DH Jeff Thomas - 2 for 4 (both doubles) and a run
#1 RF Danny Reed - 2 for 4 with an RBI

Pitching

#22 LHP Adam Holdenrid - 6 IP, 6 hits, 1 ER, 6 K's and only 1 BB.
#18 RHP Dan Atkenson - 2 IP, 1 hit, 1 K and 1 BB and 0 ER
#20 RHP Andy Deain - 1 IP, 1 hit, 0 ER.

#2 2B Marvin Sanchez also stole the first base of the season for the Huskies

The 2nd game was definitely more about the offense than pitching, as the Huskies pulled it out, winning 9-4 to sweep the double-header.

Game 2 Top Performers:

Hitting

#11 SS Bobby Stevens - 3 for 5 with a triple and 3 runs scored
#30 C Justin Behm - 3 for 4 with a double and a walk
#13 1B Dave Reynolds - 2 for 3 with an RBI, a run and a walk
#1 RF Danny Reed - 1 for 3 with a 3 RBIs and a walk

Pitching

#50 LHP Brandon Copp - 5.1 IP, 6 hits, 4 ER with 4 K's and 5 BBs
#21 RHP Dave Nykiel - 3.2 IP, only 2 hits, 3 K's and 1 BB

The third game on Sunday wasn't great offensively or defensively. 6'7" RHP Zach Oates made his pitching debut and threw OK, giving up 2 ER and 3 walks while not striking anybody out yet. We were down 5-0 early and failed to comeback with a 5-3 final.

Game 3 Top Performers:

Hitting

#13 1B Dave Reynolds - 2 for 4 with a run and a walk and no strikeouts
#11 SS Bobby Stevens - 1 for 2 with an RBI and 2 walks and 1 strikeout

Stevens, Thomas and Reed all had stolen bases.

Pitching

#33 LHP Cody Beck - 1 IP in relief of rookie starter #29 RHP Zach Oates, 1 hit and 1 K. 0 ER.
#20 RHP Andy Deain - 2 IP, 2 hits, 3 K's and 3 BBs. 0 ER.

SERIES MVP:

Leadoff man Bobby Stevens: 6 for 11, 2B, 3B, HR, 5 runs scored, 2 RBI and a walk

HM:

Adam Holdenrid, for his pitching performance in the 1st game.