Final Stats

TOLEDO - NIU baseball (14-24, 4-9 MAC) dropped the series opener Friday afternoon at Scott Park versus Toledo (14-22, 7-6 MAC) as it stranded seven runners on base, loading the bases in the fourth, as it fell to the Rockets, 5-0.

Hurler Ben Neumann (Verona, Wis./Verona Area) tossed 7.0 innings in the start, striking out three with one walk and scattering seven hits. Two of the seven hits accounted for three runs as the Rockets hit two home runs in the game.

"Today was a classic Friday night match up; their No. 1 pitcher against our No. 1 pitcher. Both teams had limited chances to put runs on the board. They took advantage of theirs and we did not," said Head Coach Mike Kunigonis. "Neumann pitched much better than his line dictates. He made a couple mistakes that a couple good hitters took advantage of.  We will bounce back and get back in the series tomorrow."

The Huskies loaded the bases in the fourth inning, looking to strike first blood in the contest as Johnny Zubek (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) singled with one out. Brian Sisler (DeKalb, Ill./DeKalb) and Tony Brandner (Richfield, Wis./Winthrop) were both struck by pitches to draw the sacks full with two outs, but NIU couldn't take advantage as it stranded the runners.

The Rockets scored a run in the fifth and sixth to take a 2-0 lead, including a solo homer by Matt Hansen in the sixth. NIU put two more runners on base in the seventh as it drew two more walks in the frame. Back-to-back strikeouts would end the inning for the Huskies.

Wes Sery (Bloomington, Ill./Normal West) finished the game with two walks for NIU while Zubek and Brandner both recorded singles and a hit by pitch.

Toledo's AJ Montoya was 3-for-4 with two runs, a home run, a double and two RBI while starting pitcher Cameron Palmer tossed 7.0 innings, allowing one hit with 11 strikeouts and four walks.

NIU and Toledo will continue the series Saturday afternoon at noon Central.