Box Score
The Patriots picked up their 10th victory of the season on Thursday night when they defeated Northern Illinois, 11-8. The victory improved the Patriots record to 10-4 overall, while the Huskies fell to 3-9.
The Huskies scored the first two runs of the game in the top of the first inning on a double and then an RBI triple to the right centerfield gap.
DBU cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the first inning on a solo home run by Junior Evan Bigley.
NIU answered Bigley's blast in the top of the third inning when Brian Smith hit a solo home run down the right field line. Centerfielder Pat Minogue then singled, stole second base, and advanced to third on a fly out to right field. Jeff Thomas drove in Minogue on a single up the middle, which gave the Huskies a 4-1 lead.
The Patriots made the score 4-2 in the bottom of the second inning after Sophomore Ryan Thompson singled and advanced to second on a ground out by Sophomore Ryan Goins. Junior Clay Kelly then drove in Thompson on a RBI single down the right field line.
DBU took a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the third inning after Sophomore Austin Knight led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a ground out by Bigley. Junior Trevor Head drove in Knight for the first run of the inning off a RBI double to right center field. Freshman Jason Krizan stepped to the plate and hit a two run home run over the centerfield wall.
The Huskies tied the score up in the top of the fourth inning after they managed to advance a base runner to third base and then an error by DBU allowed the tying run to score.
NIU retook the lead in the top of the fifth inning on a walk to lead off the inning and then a double to advance the runners into scoring position. A sacrifice fly scored the first run of the inning and then a wild pitch by starting pitcher Junior Jordan Meaker allowed the second run to score, giving the Huskies a 7-5 lead.
The Patriots cut the Huskies lead to 7-6 in the bottom of the sixth inning when Goins doubled to left field moved to third on a bunt single by Kelly and scored on a RBI sacrifice fly by Sophomore Ryan Enos.
NIU used a two out rally in the top of the seventh inning to extend their lead to 8-6 on back to back doubles by Danny Reed and Justin Behm.
The Patriots regained the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning when Bigley led off with an infield single and advanced to second when Head was hit by a pitch. Krizan laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the base runners into scoring position. The Huskies then threw a wild pitch to allow Bigley to score and an RBI single through the right side by Junior Brandon Brandon Bantz scored Head. Goins then walked, which brought up Kelly, who hit an RBI single up the middle. Enos then drove the second pitch he saw down the left field line, which allowed Kelly and Goins to score, giving DBU a 11-8 lead.
Sophomore Ryan Millard picked up the victory for DBU after he pitched 1.0 innings, allowing two hits and one run, while Senior Tyson Bagley picked up his fourth save of the season throwing 2.0 innings, allowing no hits, no runs, and striking out four.
Leading the Patriots at the plate was Kelly, who went three for four, with two RBI, and one run scored, while Goins was two for three, with two runs scored. Bigley finished his night off going two for five, with one RBI, and two runs scored.
DBU will be in action again on Friday night when they take on Northern Illinois at 6:30, at Patriot Field.
