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April 21, 2006

Box Score

Terre Haute, Ind. -

Sophomore closer Bryan Westphal (Dubuque, Iowa/Hempstead) recorded the final four outs with strikeouts as the University of Northern Iowa baseball team defeated Indiana State, 9-5, this evening at Sycamore Field. It marked the first Friday-night conference win for the Panthers, who improve to 4-6 in the Missouri Valley Conference.

"It was great to find a way to win on Friday night," head coach Rick Heller said. "We did not play extremely well but we finally got some clutch two-out hits.  Bryan Westphal worked his way out of a jam in the eighth and did a great job of closing out the ninth tonight."

Senior right-hander Zach Jevne (Decorah, Iowa/Decorah) tallied his first conference win, striking out five in six innings and only walking one.  Entering in the bottom of the eighth with two runners on and no outs, Westphal worked the Panthers out of the inning and earned his fifth save of the season.

Junior Nick Cameron (West Des Moines, Iowa/Indian Hills/Valley) was 1-for-2 with two runs scored and his third career homer, a solo shot over the left field fence.  Junior Eric Hoffmann (Erskine, Minn./Iowa Central/Win-E-Mac) was 2-for-5 with three runs scored and sophomore Brett Featherston (Epworth, Iowa/Western Dubuque) had a double and was walked three times, intentionally twice. Senior Mark Frieske (Spokane, Wash./Porterville C.C./North Central) was 3-for-5 with a double.

With a double down the right field line in the first frame, Featherston plated Pat Moran (Rapid City, S.D./Stevens), who had reached on a walk by Sycamore starter Ryan Tatusko. The Sycamores tied the game in the bottom of the inning; Tim Brewer reached first on an error by shortstop Brandon Douglas (St. Charles, Iowa/I-35), scooted around the bases with two stolen bags and came home on an overthrow by catcher Nate Trumm (Worthington, Iowa/Dyersville-Beckman).  

Ryan Bond led off the bottom of the second with a stand-up double to right field and went to third on a sacrifice bunt from Andrew Strange. Bond then advanced home on a groundout to Brandon Douglas, giving INS a 2-1 lead.

UNI took back the lead in the top of the fifth. Moran notched an RBI with the bases loaded, hitting a fielder's choice ball to second base, which caught Frieske for the first out. Brandon Douglas then brought home Hoffmann with a sacrifice bunt.

INS took back the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fifth and then UNI pulled ahead, 6-4, in the top of the sixth, scoring three runs on two outs. Cameron started the rally with a solo shot over the left field fence, his second homer of the season.  Eric Hoffmann then reached on an error by Tatusko and Mark Frieske sent him home on a double to left center.  Later in the inning, Brandon Douglas recorded a bunt single, plating Frieske.

The Panthers fought off a Sycamore rally in the bottom of the eighth, limiting INS to only run off two back-to-back hits. UNI extended its lead in the top of the ninth.  Trumm led off with single up the middle and was pushed to second on a sacrifice bunt by Bradley, reached third on a pass ball and scored on a wild pitch.  Hoffmann then singled to right, scoring Deric Manrique (Sioux City, Iowa/Nebraska/North) who pinch ran for Cameron.  Another wild pitch brought home the final run of the contest. 

UNI outhit INS 11-10, however committed four errors to the Sycamores' three.  

UNI (19-19, 4-6 MVC) and Indiana State (17-21, 3-7 MVC) continue the series tomorrow at 12 p.m. central. Sophomore Taylor Sinclair (Indianola, Iowa/Indianola) and junior Ryan Hayes are the projected starters.