Final Stats

UWM 7, NIU 6 

DeKALB - The NIU baseball team (12-24) overcame a 5-1 deficit in the sixth inning to take its first lead of the game over Milwaukee (15-16) Tuesday afternoon, however, the Panthers reclaimed their lead in the next half-inning to defeat the Huskies, 7-6.

Tony Brandner (Colgate, Wis./Winthrop) and Tommy Hook (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township) each collected two hits and an RBI. Carl Russell (Grayslake, Ill./Grayslake North) recorded two RBI, tying the game with a two-run single in the sixth. Pitcher Matthew Hoffman (East Dubuque, Ill./Wahlert Catholic) finished the game for NIU, striking out two in the six batters he faced over 2.0 innings.

“It was a disappointing game today but we did a nice job of battling back. We can’t spot teams five runs in the first five innings and expect to win games and we’ve done that a little bit too much in midweek games,” said Head Coach Mike Kunigonis. “We saw some good things offensively and we hit a ton of balls hard but right at people. That’s baseball, and unfortunately we were at the wrong end even though we swung OK. We have to get back to work and be ready for our series with UB this weekend.”

Milwaukee opened the scoring as it rattled off five runs in the second through fifth innings, scratching two across in the third. The Panthers got on the board with a solo home run by Eric Solberg in the second inning.

Junior Joe Hawks (Johnston, Iowa/Iowa Central College) tossed 3.0 innings in his fifth start for NIU, striking out one with only one walk. The Huskies second reliever Joey Ceja (Ottawa, Ill./Heartland CC) gave up one run in the fifth but settled down in the sixth, holding UWM scoreless to start the Huskies come back charge as NIU trailed 5-1.

Hook led the sixth with a bunt single to third, followed by a Justin Fletcher (Pekin, Ill./Illinois Central College) single. With one out, Brian Sisler (DeKalb, Ill./DeKalb) loaded the bases as he was hit in the back by a pitch.

Stephen Letz (Dyer, Ind./South Suburban College) drew a four-pitch walk to notch an RBI and lift NIU within three runs as pitcher Jake Sommers entered the game after the walk. Singles by Brandner and Russell evened the game, 5-5, and put runners at the corners with one out and Luke Yapp (Verona, Wis./Madison College) at the plate.

With a full count on him, Yapp hit a tough grounder to the third baseman’s left - allowing Letz to score with ease - and appeared to beat the throw but was called out on the play as the Huskies took the lead, 6-5.

Milwaukee’s Cole Heili tied the game the next half inning with a solo home run to right field, 6-6. Set up by a failed double play attempt at second base that allowed the runner to advance to third, the Panthers scratched the final run across on a groundout RBI by Nick Unes, 7-6.

Closer Jake Tuttle tossed 1.2 innings for UWM, striking out all five batters he faced, including four looking, thanks to his 86 mile per hour slider that painted the corners of the plate.

NIU will return to action Friday, starting a three-game series with Buffalo. The series will begin at 3 p.m. Central time.