Final Stats

No. 2 VU 9, NIU 2 

NASHVILLE - NIU (2-13) held 2015 national runner-up Vanderbilt hitless for the first three innings and finished the first third of the game tied, 1-1, with a chance at scoring the go-ahead run in the third. However, the No. 2 Commodores (16-1) took advantage of their limited chances as they defeated the Huskies, 9-2. NIU stranded nine runners on base and outhit Vandy, 8-4.

Brian Sisler went 2-for-4 at the plate with a double and a run scored. Tommy Hook (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township) and Justin Fletcher (Pekin, Ill./Illinois Central College) each collected a hit with an RBI. Tony Brandner’s (Richfield, Wis./Winthrop) leadoff triple accounted for the tying run in the third.

“We played much better tonight as whole. We need to build on this by getting back to feeling good, learning from our mistakes and continuing to get better. I’m glad we play tomorrow so we can get back on the horse and keep grinding,” said Head Coach Mike Kunigonis.

“Free bases are our kryptonite on the mound. If we can limit them, we have shot to be pretty good moving forward. Only giving up four hits to the No. 2 team in the country needs to be a positive for our pitching staff,” he added.

NIU starting pitcher Joey Ceja (Ottawa, Ill./Heartland CC) held Vanderbilt hitless in the first three innings of the ballgame, surrendering the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first to make it a 1-0 game.

The Huskies, who racked up five hits in the first four innings, responded in the top of the third as Brandner tripled to leadoff the frame. Fletcher, who singled up the middle on the first pitch of the game, grounded out to the shortstop on a slow chopper to score Brandner with ease and tie the game, 1-1.

Later in the inning with two men down, Johnny Zubek (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) was hit by a pitch, setting up a Sisler double on a 1-0 pitch that put runners on second and third.

Working the count to 3-1 at the plate, Brandon Mallder (Bridgeview, Ill./St. Laurence) tried to poke one past third baseman Will Toffey but the Commodore defender made the stop and throw to first to prevent NIU from scratching across the go-ahead run.

The Vanderbilt offense went to work in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring five runs in the stanza, including two on the first career homer by freshman Ethan Paul. The Commodores would scratch one more across in the fifth inning on a pair of wild pitches to take a 7-1 lead. Vanderbilt stole three bases in the fourth and fifth innings and finished five total in the game.

The Huskies continued to fight despite their deficit as Stephen Letz (Dyer, Ind./South Suburban College) doubled to left centerfield with one out, reaching third later in the inning. However, NIU could not capitalize on the chance as the sixth ended scoreless for the Huskies.

Trailing 9-1 in the eighth, Sisler and Mallder led the inning with a single and double, respectively, setting up Hook’s sacrifice fly to centerfield and make it a 9-2 game.

Second baseman Brad Wood (Orland Park, Ill./St. Laurence) finished the game for NIU on the mound, recording a 1-2-3 inning as he ended the frame with a strikeout, one of six for the NIU pitching staff.

Northern Illinois University will return to action Wednesday night when it takes on Austin Peay in Clarksville, Tenn. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.