Final Stats

NIU-SIU DH Box Scores

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The NIU baseball team (7-6) won its third series of the season Sunday as it swept a doubleheader at Southern Illinois (2-12), 8-2, 3-0. It was the Huskies first doubleheader sweep since April 15, 2012 at Miami (Ohio).

"I'm very happy with the way this team bounced back to sweep the doubleheader for the series win today. We played hard and played Huskieball for 18 innings," said Head Coach Mike Kunigonis. "Our pitching staff was impressive and offensively we received big hits when we needed them. I look forward to a great day of practice tomorrow to get ready for Murray State on Tuesday."

Brian Sisler (DeKalb, Ill./DeKalb) was 3-for-9 with two RBI, a run and a double while Brad Wood (Orland Park, Ill./St. Laurence) was 4-for-8 with an RBI. Dirk Ormsby (Ligonier, Ind./Kellogg CC) picked up his third win of the season in game one while Ryan Olson (Sterling, Ill./Newman Central Catholic), Kevin Jones (Chesterton, Ind./Portage) and Andrew Frankenreider (Peoria, Ill./Dunlap) combined for the shutout in game two.

The Huskies will continue their spring trip Tuesday, March 10 at Murray State for a two game set with the Thoroughbreds. Game one of the series is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.

GAME ONE
The Huskies came out swinging in the first inning as it accounted for three runs on four hits in the frame. Stephen Letz (Dyer, Ind./South Suburban College) singled to drive in Malique Ziegler (Des Moines, Iowa/Des Moines East), who led the game with a single of his own. Wes Sery (Bloomington, Ill./Normal West) followed Letz's single with a two-RBI triple to right field to put the Huskies on top, 3-0.

Leading 3-1 in the top of the fourth, Nate Ruzich (Joliet, Ill./South Suburban College) scored NIU's lone run of the frame from second after Justin Fletcher (Pekin, Ill./Illinois Central College) singled up the middle. The Huskies would add three more runs in the fifth on four more hits to take a 7-1 lead.

The Salukis responded with one run in bottom of the sixth inning as Logan Blackfan doubled to leadoff the inning, followed by a single by Jake Hand to left field, 7-2. NIU went back up by six runs after Tony Brandner (Richfield, Wis./Winthrop) singled to score Ruzich who doubled earlier in the inning.

Micah McCulloch (Rochelle, Ill./Rochelle Township) made his first appearance on the mound for NIU, tossing 2.0 relief innings for the Huskies, striking out one with only one hit. Ormsby threw a career-high 7.0 innings, scattering seven hits with two strikeouts and one earned run.

Ziegler went 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs with a season-best three stolen bases. along with his triple, Sery also recorded a double.

GAME TWO
The Salukis responded in game two as it held the Huskies scoreless for the first four innings. However, NIU registered two runs in the top of the fifth as freshmen Joe Jumonville (Munster, Ind./Munster), Ziegler and Wood singled to put the Huskies on the board, 1-0. Sisler hit his eighth double of the year to score Ziegler and double NIU's lead.

On the mound, Olson scattered five hits over his 6.0 innings of work, including two in the first inning but the Huskie defense showed support for the pitcher as it only allowed two runners to reach second base in the game. NIU was error free in the game.

The Huskies added an insurance run in the eighth inning as Fletcher recorded a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Ruzich from third base to put NIU on top, 3-0.

In two relief innings, Jones allowed one hit and only one walk, while striking out two. Frankenreider stepped onto the mound in the ninth inning, fanning two batters to pick up his second save of the season.

The combined shutout was NIU's first of the season and first of Olson's and Jones' career while Frankenreider picked up the second of his career.