CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (3/10/12) - The Arkansas State Red Wolves (8-7) kept pace with Northern Illinois for six innings, but the Huskies plated a pair in the seventh to break a 2-2 tie and went on to defeat ASU 6-5 Saturday afternoon at the Austin Peay Riverview Inn Challenge.
After NIU (2-11) added two runs in the eighth to extend its lead to 6-2, Arkansas State scored twice in the eighth, once in the ninth and put the winning run at second later in the ninth, but could not complete the comeback. With the loss, Arkansas State saw its record at the Challenge evened at 1-1 after defeating Dayton 9-3 in Friday's opener.
"They beat us in the seventh, eighth and ninth and that was the key," said ASU head coach Tommy Raffo. "I'm proud of the way we battled back when we were down four, and that's a positive thing. We were one hit away from winning, we just weren't able to overcome those last three innings. Hopefully we can learn from this and get better."
The Huskies used a solo home run in the top of the second from first baseman Jeff Zimmerman to take a 1-0 lead before Arkansas State tied the game in the third with an RBI single from center fielder Michael Faulkner.
A run-scoring single from NIU designated hitter Connor Duckhorn in the sixth gave the Huskies a brief 2-1 lead, but Faulkner tripled to lead off the bottom of the frame and scored on a groundout from Collin Massanelli to pull the Red Wolves even again at 2-2.
Northern Illinois regained the lead when catcher Joe Battaglia led off the seventh with a solo home run, added another in the frame on an ASU fielding error, then put two more on the board in the eighth, getting RBIs from Battaglia and left fielder Jordan Rishavy to extend the Huskies' lead to 6-2.
The Red Wolves got two runs back in the bottom of the eighth. Faulkner singled, stole second and eventually scored on a sacrifice from Massanelli, and an RBI single from designated hitter Ryan Emery pulled the Red Wolves to within two at 6-4.
Junior reliever Morgan Croft did not allow an NIU baserunner in the ninth to put ASU in position to threaten. Catcher Stuart Levy drew a one-out walk, advanced to second on a single from Faulkner and scored on a base hit from Massanelli, but the Red Wolves could not get Faulkner home to tie the game.
Junior Daniel Wright (0-2) took the loss on the mound for ASU, giving up three runs on eight hits in 6.2 innings. Wright struck out six batters and walked just one. Starter Tony Manville (1-1) earned the win for NIU, giving up four runs on 10 hits in 7.1 innings. Manville struck out three and walked one. Reliever Kyle Glancy earned the save for NIU.
Faulkner went 4-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored and first baseman Zach George was 3-for-5 to lead ASU at the plate. Arkansas State out-hit the Huskies 13-11 on the day.
Arkansas State will wrap up play in the Riverview Inn Challenge Sunday afternoon when the Red Wolves take on tournament host Austin Peay at 2:30 p.m.
NOTES
- - Michael Faulkner stole his 13th base of the season in the eighth inning. Faulkner has not been caught stealing this season. Faulkner came into the weekend with 10 stolen bases, tied for the Sun Belt Conference lead.
- - Daniel Wright has gone 6 2/3 innings in each of his last two starts.
- - Following Saturday's game ASU leads the series with NIU 4-3.
