Huskies' Late-Inning Rally Falls Short Against Ball State - Northern Illinois University Athletics

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4/25/2022 | 12:00 PM

Apr. 25 (Mon) / 12:00 PM

 Ball State

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DeKALB, IL – The Northern Illinois University baseball team had the bases loaded and the tying run at the plate three times in the bottom of the ninth but could not get the equalizing runs in a 9-5 loss to the Ball State Cardinals Sunday afternoon at Ralph McKinzie Field.
 
Ball State (24-14, 18-4 MAC) took a 5-0 lead in the top of the second, sparked by a two-run home run off the bat of Ryan Peltier. The Cardinals put four more runs on the board in the fifth to take a 9-0 lead. The Huskies got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Malik Peters (Calumet City, Ill./Mount Carmel) led off with a double to left center, advancing to third on a passed ball. Brandon Johnson (Rochelle, Ill./Rochelle Twp.) then laced a single to right field to drive in Peters and make the score 9-1.
 
NIU's (7-30, 6-15 MAC) Nick Bonk (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Stevenson) kept NIU in the game on the mound in relief of Michael Lasiewicz (McHenry, Ill./McHenry). Bonk retired the side in the sixth with a pair of strikeouts and left two runners on base in the seventh. Meanwhile, the Huskies added a run in the bottom of the sixth on a double steal that saw Carlos Aranda (Santo Domingo, D.R./Ellsworth) take home to make the score 9-2. In the bottom of the seventh, it was a Mason Kelley (Mt. Washington, Ky./Schoolcraft College) sacrifice fly that drove home Peters and made the score 9-3.
 
The Huskies made a go of it in the bottom of the ninth. The first five NIU batters all reached base, starting with a Peters infield single off of Ball State reliever Tyler Ruetschle. Johnson drew a walk and Aaron Harper (Hemet, Calif./Mt. San Jacinto College) singled down the right field line to load the bases. Kelley also knocked a single down the right field line to keep the line moving, scoring Peters to put NIU within five at 9-4. The Cardinals went to the bullpen once again for Sam Klein, who walked pinch hitter Paxton Kennedy (Mendota, Ill./Illinois Valley CC) that allowed Johnson to score and put the tally at 9-5. Klein held the Huskies there, striking out the next three batters to lock up the victory.
 
"We need to be better out of the gate so we aren't chasing the first three innings," said head coach Mike Kunigonis. "If we can get better there we will be in a good place down the home stretch."
 
Bonk threw 4.2 innings of scoreless relief, allowing two hits and two walks. He tied a career-high with four strikeouts.
 
"Nick did a great job for us today," Kunigonis said. "He came in in and did exactly what we asked. He gave us a chance to come back late in the game."
 
Peters was 2-for-3 at the plate with a walk and three runs scored. Johnson reached base in all four of his plate appearances, going 2-for-2 with two walks. Matt Barnes (Bloomington, Ill./Heartland CC) also had a pair of hits in the ballgame.
 
NIU and Ball State wrap up their Mid-American Conference series on Monday, April 25 at 12 p.m. CT at Ralph McKinzie Field.
 
--NIU--
 

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Huskies' Late-Inning Rally Falls Short Against Ball State - Northern Illinois University Athletics
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