Final Stats

MOUNT PLEASANT, Michigan - NIU (20-28, 8-13 MAC) closed its series with Mid-American Conference leader Central Michigan (30-17, 15-6 MAC) Sunday at Theunissen Stadium, falling to the Chippewas in the series clinching finale, 15-2. The Chippewas combined for 20 hits in the game.

Central Michigan went on the board in the bottom of the first inning as it tallied two hits, two walks and two runs in the frame to jump out to a 2-0 lead.

The Huskies nearly cut the deficit in half in the top of the second as Carl Russell (Grayslake, Ill./Grayslake North) singled and advanced to third on a single by Nate Ruzich (Joliet, Ill./South Suburban College). With two outs, NIU attempted a double steal but Russell was unable to reach home in time as he was thrown out 2-4-2 to end the inning.

The Chips totaled seven hits and seven runs in the third inning to increase their lead, 9-0. Fuller responded with a 1-2-3 inning in the third to keep CMU scoreless.

Freshman Kevin Jones (Chesterton, Ind./Portage) stepped onto the rubber in the fourth inning with runners on first and second, picking off the lead runner before throwing a pitch. That proved vital as Central Michigan loaded the bases in the inning but left them stranded as the freshman kept the team scoreless.

NIU got on the board in the fifth inning, loading the bases on three walks. Ruzich would score on a sacrifice fly to left field by Brian Sisler (DeKalb, Ill./DeKalb) to break the shutout, 9-1.

The Chips scored one run in the fifth and three more in the seventh to take a 13-1 lead. However, NIU loaded the bases and looked to rally back from the deficit as Brad Wood (Orland Park, Ill./St. Laurence) hit an RBI single through the left side to score one run, 13-2. CMU added two runs in the eighth to cap the scoring

NIU begins finals week on Monday and will resume action on Friday for the final home series of the season Ralph McKinzie Field versus Western Michigan. First pitch is set for 3:05 p.m. Central.