Final Stats

EMU 3, NIU 2 

YPSILANTI, Mich. - Eastern Michigan’s Mike Mioduszewski hit two solo home runs, including a walk-off with one out in the bottom of the ninth, to lead the Eagles (20-30, 10-11 MAC) over NIU (21-29, 14-10 MAC) in Sunday’s pitchers' duel, 3-2.

Brian Sisler (DeKalb, Ill./DeKalb) went 2-for-4 at the plate with a double, a triple and two RBI while Donovin Sims (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah Community) hurled his second complete game of the season, striking out three with zero walks. The Huskies forced 10-first pitch putouts in the ball game, allowing the sophomore hurler to work late into the ball game.

“That loss is on me. I didn’t do what I thought was right and it cost us. Simsy threw great and our guys battled. It was a very tough loss,” said Head Coach Mike Kunigonis. “We played very well this weekend and this team has what it takes to go deep into the MAC tourney and win a MAC title. We need to keep the momentum going this week in non-conference action."

After a quick first two frames, in which both pitchers worked quickly and efficiently, NIU broke the game open in the third as Johnny Zubek (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) flared a single to right field with one out to jumpstart the Huskies.

A follow-up single by Tommy Hook (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township) put two runners on for NIU and set the table for Sisler, who tripled to the gap in right centerfield with two men down to break the deadlock, 2-0.

Eastern Michigan cut its deficit in half in the bottom of the fourth inning as Mioduszewski homered to right field with two down to lift EMU within one run, 2-1. In the sixth, EMU tied it up with a runner on third and two outs as Tony Dileo flared a single to right field to knot it up, 2-2.

After the Dileo RBI single, Sims retired the next eight batters he faced, bringing Mioduszewski to the plate in the ninth. The Eagles’ junior drove a 2-2 pitch to centerfield that looked like a deep fly ball to the warning track. However, the ball continued to sail deep and cleared the fence in right center to seal the game, 3-2.

With a 14-10 clip in Mid-American Conference play, Northern Illinois University clinched second in the MAC West, one game behind Ball State. The Cardinals defeated Toledo in 10 innings, 8-7, following the Huskies loss. Depending on results from the final weekend of the regular season, NIU will enter the MAC Tournament as the No. 3 or No. 4 seed.

The Huskies will return to action Tuesday, May 17 when it takes on Milwaukee at Hank Aaron Field in Milwaukee. First pitch is set for 3pm Central.