Issue date: 5/2/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: File Photo By Matt Watras/The Daily Northwestern Senior outfielder Caleb Fields hit his first home run of the season in Northwestern's 5-4 loss to Northern Illinois on Tuesday. After tying the game in the fifth inning, the Cats' bats went cold, managing only one hit over the final four innings. [Click to enlarge]

By Chris Gentilviso
The Daily Northwestern

"Let's get it done."

Bleeding from 15 losses in 19 April games, Northwestern coach Paul Stevens repeatedly encouraged his players during Tuesday afternoon's game to open May on a different note.

With NU trailing 5-4 and down to its final out, Wildcats' senior catcher Geoff Dietz walked to the plate as the go-ahead run. Dietz fouled off five consecutive pitches after the home plate umpire granted him a new life on a questionable check-swing call.

But on the 10th pitch of the at-bat, Dietz came up empty, striking out to give Northern Illinois the one-run victory.

"We've just been a little short," Stevens said. "I like how (the players) battled. We had a few opportunities and a couple of miscues that cost us, but they battled and stayed in there."

The Huskies jumped on NU (10-30) and starter David Jensen in the opening frame. First baseman Scott Simon blasted a three-run home run over the right field scoreboard, giving Northern Illinois (23-15) a 3-0 lead.

Trailing 4-1 in the fifth inning, the Cats chipped away. Senior Caleb Fields roped his first home run of the season, scoring junior Antonio Mulé and cutting the Huskies' lead to one. After consecutive walks by Northern Illinois starter Brandon Copp, sophomore Tommy Finn ripped a single to left, tying the game at four.

But from that point on, the offense went cold. The Huskies' bullpen tandem of Andrew Deain and Matt German held the Cats to one hit - senior Mike Kalina's ninth-inning single.

Coming into the game, Deain and German had given up seven earned runs in 54.1 innings, a combined ERA of 1.16.

Continued...

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