Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Northern Illinois
Baseball Rolled by Northern Illinois
4/28/2007 9:56:44 PM | Baseball
Eagles’ nine-game conference win streak snapped
DeKALB, Ill.
– The Eastern Michigan University baseball team saw its nine-game consecutive Mid-American Conference win streak snapped in convincing fashion as Northern Illinois defeated the Eagles, 11-1, Saturday afternoon here at Ralph McKinzie Field. The loss coupled with Central Michigan’s 11-10 victory over Toledo, dropped EMU (17-17, 13-2 MAC) one game behind the Chippewas (28-14, 15-2 MAC) in the West Division standings.The EMU pitching staff had no answer for Northern Illinois’ (22-17, 10-7) offensive onslaught which tallied 11 runs on 14 hits. Senior pitcher George Biddle (4-4) lost his first conference game allowing seven runs (four earned) on eight hits with six strikeouts. Junior Dan Puls (0-1) also had a rough outing giving up four runs on five hits in only 2.0 innings of work. Conversely, NIU pitcher Matt Jernstad had a solid effort on the mound going a career-long 8.0 innings allowing only one run on four hits with six strikeouts.
Senior Brian Blackburn was the only Eagle who crossed the plate going 1-for-1 with a solo home run in the top of the eighth inning.
Northern Illinois was led by Matt Behren went 3-for-4 with four RBI and three runs scored.
NIU jumped to out to a quick 3-0 lead in the second inning getting three runs (two unearned) on three hits and an EMU error.
The Huskies poured it on in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings tallying eight more runs on nine hits to take a commanding 11-0 lead.
EMU’s lone bright spot came on Blackburn’s home run to get the Eagles on the board at 11-1.
The series finale between EMU and NIU is Sunday, April 29, at 1 p.m.
