April 26, 2016
Final Stats
NIU 11, UIC 6 
DeKALB - Scoring eight runs in the first three innings and 10-plus runs for the second-straight game, the NIU baseball team (15-25) defeated UIC (17-22) Tuesday afternoon at Ralph McKinzie Field, 11-6.
Pitcher Jon Savarise (Lincolnshire, Ill./Stevenson) picked up his first career victory on the mound, setting the tone for a pitching staff that did not surrender a walk for the second time in the last three games. Justin Fletcher (Pekin, Ill./Illinois Central College) and Johnny Zubek (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) each tallied three RBI as Fletcher totaled three hits, along with Stephen Letz (Dyer, Ind./South Suburban College), while Zubek doubled twice.
“Today was a great midweek series win today. We saw some great things from a lot of guys. Rummy (Aaron Rumfield) and Ruck (Jordan Ruckman) were fantastic today and definitely took advantage of their opportunities," said Head Coach Mike Kunigonis. "Offensively, we did great coming out of the gates hot and finishing the game. We need to keep playing well this weekend.”
Savarise hurled two shutout innings in his three innings of work, closing his outing un-phased after surrendering four runs in the second. In relief, Aaron Rumfield (Lubbock, Texas/Midland College) and Jordan Ruckman (Kankakee, Ill./Herscher) combined for 5.0 innings, scattering seven hits and surrendering two unearned runs. Ryne Blanton (Spring Grove, Ill./Madison College) closed the game strong, retiring all three batters he faced.
In his final inning of work, Rumfield loaded the bases with no outs and pitched his way out of the jam, surrendering zero runs as he forced one of the Huskies season-high four double plays in the game. The Flames lined into all four of the double plays.
Offensively, Northern Illinois was electric as it tallied four runs on five hits in the opening frame with two outs. Four different Huskies - Letz, Zubek, Fletcher and Brandon Mallder (Bridgeview, Ill./St. Laurence) - all tallied RBI in the inning.
Tied 4-4 in the bottom of the second, NIU separated as Letz singled to right centerfield to reclaim the Huskies lead, 5-4, setting up Zubek’s doubled down the left field line to score two more runs, 7-4. Brad Wood (Orland Park, Ill./St. Laurence) singled in the third to double NIU’s lead, 8-4.
After the Flames cut their deficit in half in the fifth, 8-6, NIU scored three more runs in the bottom of the eighth to close out the game, 11-6. With the bases loaded, Fletcher singled through the right side to drive in two runs while Mallder doubled to round out the game's scoring.
UIC’s Austin Smith tossed 5.2 innings in relief, striking out a career-high nine batters while allowing one unearned run.
The Huskies will return to action on Friday, April 29 as they take on Bowling Green. NIU and the Falcons will open the series at 2 p.m.