Final Stats |  Photo Gallery 

DeKALB - The NIU baseball team (14-21) got back to its winning ways Tuesday afternoon as it accounted for 10 hits and 11 runs to defeat UIC (16-13-1) at Ralph McKinzie Field, 11-4. Catcher Johnny Zubek (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) hit his first career home run, a grand slam, to finish 1-for-2 with five RBI, two runs, two stolen bases and two walks.

On the mound, Kevin Jones (Chesterton, Ind./Portage) improved to 2-0 on the year in his first career start for NIU, striking out two in the 3.0 inning effort with one pickoff. Donovin Sims (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah Community) tossed 5.2 innings in relief, nearly earning a six inning save. He struck out three.

"We did a great job of battling and playing hard. When you go about your business the right way, good things happen. Kevin and Donovin did a great job on the mound today giving us a chance to win. Matt Hoffmann closed it out and did a great job coming into the game ready to go," said Head Coach Mike Kunigonis.

"It's nice to get back in the "W" column today and feel good again. We will be ready to go tomorrow for our second midweek game tomorrow versus Bradley," added Kunigonis.

The Huskies and Flames scored early and often in the first two innings as UIC scored a run in the first and the second, however, NIU scored a run in the first and two in the second to take a 2-1 lead.

Wes Sery (Bloomington, Ill./Normal West) drove in the Huskies first run on an RBI single. NIU took advantage of free passes as Joe Boyle (Wheaton, Ill./Benet Academy) scored on a passed ball and Malique Ziegler (Des Moines, Iowa/Des Moines East) reached home on a wild pitch, after pushing Boyle to third on an infield single and stealing second.

Sims took over in the fourth for Jones on the mound and posted five-straight scoreless innings for the Huskies. The offense rallied behind Sims as it scored two more runs in the fourth and one in the fifth.

In only his 12th at-bat of the year, Carl Russell (GraysLake, Ill./GraysLake North) hit a leadoff single in the fourth to start the Huskie rally. NIU then loaded the bases for Zubek with one out. A fielding error at shortstop gave Zubek his first RBI and scored two runs for NIU, who increased its lead, 5-2. Brad Wood (Orland Park, Ill./St. Laurence), who led the fifth with a double, scored from second on a single to right field by Micah McCulloch (Rochelle, Ill./Rochelle Township) to make it, 6-2.

NIU loaded the bases in the seventh, scoring its first of five runs on a fielding error by the second baseman with the bases loaded with two outs, allowing Jason Gasser (Dyer, Ind./Mt. Carmel) to reach first base safely and score Joe Jumonville (Munster, Ind./Munster), who reached base via walk. Zubek then curled a 2-1 pitch to left field and out Ralph McKinzie Field to put the Huskies on top, 11-2.

UIC mustered up two runs in the top of the ninth but the effort was too late, snapping NIU's nine-game winless streak. Sims was going for a rare six inning save during the game but was pulled after allowing a walk to load the bases with two down in the ninth.

Boyle, who finished the game 1-for-3 at the plate, scored three runs in the game as he singled, drew a walk and was hit by a pitch.

The Huskies will return to action tomorrow afternoon at Ralph McKinzie field, hosting Bradley. First pitch is set for 3:05 p.m.