Final Stats

AKRON - NIU (13-21, 4-8 MAC) completed its weekend series at Akron (16-16, 8-4 MAC) Sunday afternoon as the Huskies fell to the Zips in the finale on a walk-off sacrifice fly, 5-4. It was Northern Illinois University's second walk-off loss of the season, last falling at Southern Illinois on March 7, also a 5-4 loss.

"This was a tough weekend. We need to do a better job taking care of our business. We left this one on the table and have no one to blame but ourselves," said Head Coach Mike Kunigonis. "Seth and Frank pitched their absolute hearts out and our team let them down. Those guys deserved better than what they got. I believe in this group of guys and that we will be successful. We will be back to work tomorrow and will get better."

Leading 4-3 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, Akron tied the game on a fielder's choice by Billy Salem to make it a 4-4 ball game. In the ninth frame, NIU got one quick out and quickly had two men on after a walk on a full count, a stolen base and an intentional walk to put the force out at third. A fielder's choice loaded the bases, setting up Brian Lees' sacrifice fly to centerfield which ended the game.

NIU took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, loading the bases with two men down as Justin Fletcher (Pekin, Ill./Illinois Central College) struckout and reached first on a wild pitch. Joe Jumonville (Munster, Ind./Munster) knocked in the first run on a single through the left side while Jason Gasser (Dyer, Ind./Mt. Carmel) walked to bring in the second run.

After Akron tied the game, 2-2, in the bottom of the fifth, the Huskies retook the lead in the top of the sixth as Tony Brandner (Richfield, Wis./Winthrop) and Brad Wood (Orland Park, Ill./St. Laurence) singled to put a runner in scoring position with one out. Micah McCulloch (Rochelle, Ill./Rochelle Township) then hit an RBI single to score Brandner and push Wood to third. Fletcher would hit a sacrifice fly to put NIU on top, 4-2.

Brander and Wood each recorded two hits and scored two runs in the contest. Starting pitcher Seth Fuller (Moline, Ill./Black Hawk College) tossed 4.2 innings, allowing zero earned runs while striking out two with only four hits. Andrew Frankenreider (Peoria, Ill./Dunlap) allowed one earned run in his four innings, striking out five.

NIU will host a pair of midweek games at Ralph McKinzie Field this week, starting with a Tuesday afternoon clash at UIC. First pitch against the Flames is set for 3:05 p.m. Central. On Wednesday, the Huskies will take on Bradley, also set to begin at 3:05 p.m.