May 2, 2015
Final Stats
MOUNT PLEASANT, Michigan - Scoring three runs in the top of the sixth inning, the NIU baseball team (20-27, 8-12 MAC) grinded out a its fourth victory of the season by one run as solid pitching and defense held Central Michigan (29-20, 14-6 MAC) scoreless in the final three innings, 6-5.
Starting pitcher Dirk Ormsby (Ligonier, Ind./Kellogg CC) tossed 6.0 innings, striking out three batters with zero walks to improve to 6-5 on the year. Andrew Frankenreider (Peoria, Ill./Dunlap) earned his eighth save of the year as he finished the game with 2.0 innings and three strikeouts.
At the plate, Brian Sisler (DeKalb, Ill./DeKalb) drove in the winning runs on a two-run single in the sixth. Tony Brandner (Richfield, Wis./Winthrop), Nate Ruzich (Joliet, Ill/South Suburban College) and Micah McCulloch (Rochelle, Ill./Rochelle Township) all collected two hits, including a home run by McCulloch.
"That was a good bounce back win today for Huskieball. We batted and did a great job of fighting every inch of the way. Going into Sunday, the weekend is up for grabs and I like the way we're playing right now," said Head Coach Mike Kunigonis.
The Huskies opened the game with two runs as they loaded the bases on three walks with two outs in the top of the first. Sophomore Carl Russell (Grayslake, Ill./Grayslake North) came through on a single to centerfield to score two runs and give NIU the first lead of the day, 2-0.
CMU called with three singles in the bottom of the frame to tie it up, 2-2. In true blues fashion, Northern Illinois University responded in the top of the third as McCulloch led off with a home run, sending the first pitch of the inning 380 feet over the left field wall.
On the mound, Ormsby settled in the second inning as he retired the Chippewas in order 1-2-3 to keep Central Michigan scoreless and baseless in the frame. It was the start of three-straight perfect innings for the senior hurler who kept the Huskies on top, 3-2.
The Chippewas tied it up to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning as Joe Houlihan curled a homer around the pole in left field, 3-3. After a two out double down the right field line, the Chips took their first lead of the game on a single by Pat MacKenzie in the fifth, 4-3.
In the top of the sixth, NIU reclaimed the lead with a three hit, three run inning, 6-4. With the bases loaded, Johnny Zubek (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) recorded an RBI on a walk to tie the game. On the next at-bat, Sisler scored both Ruzich and Malique Ziegler (Des Moines, Iowa/Des Moines East) on a single to centerfield to cap the frame.
The Chippewas clawed and scratched the rest of the game as it added one more run in the bottom of the sixth, making it a 6-5 ball game.
The NIU defense worked hard behind its bullpen the rest of the day, holding the Chips scoreless in the last third of the contest. With the leadoff runner on second and the heart of the order at bat with two outs in the seventh, the Sisler stopped the Chips from loading bases from his shortstop position, making the out at first on a slow chopper to end the inning.
Frankenreider sealed the Huskie victory with his eighth save of the season, fanning three batters in the eighth inning.
The Huskies will look to clinch the series tomorrow afternoon against the Chippewas. First pitch Sunday is set for 12:05 p.m. Central.
