DEKALB – The NIU baseball team (14-28, 8-7 MAC) was declared the winner of Saturday's series finale against Ball State (22-22, 9-9 MAC) early Sunday morning. The final score will go down as an 11-8 win as NIU was leading 9-8 after the top of the seventh but scored two more runs in the bottom of the inning while still batting when the game was called.
 
"This weekend was a hard fought battle all around," Head Coach Mike Kunigonis said. "Two teams battled in a good MAC series, against each other and against the weather."
 
The Huskies earned this win in comeback fashion after trailing 5-0 after the top of the third and 5-1 through the top of the fifth inning. In the home half of the fifth, the NIU offense came alive scoring six runs on five singles and three walks with the tying and go-ahead runs each scoring on wild pitches.
 
At the plate, all nine NIU starting hitters reached base led by seniors Tommy Hook and Jason Gasser with the two reaching three times each. Hook went 2-4 from the leadoff spot with three RBIs and two runs scored as Gasser went 3-4 from the eight spot scoring two runs himself.
 
As the rain became heavier, Ball State was mounting a comeback in the top of the seventh against reliever Ryne Blanton, who earned the win going three and two-thirds innings out of the bullpen. After a single to bring the game to 9-8 and the tying run on third, the Huskies went to George Faue for the second-straight day and Faue got out of a first and third jam with one pitch, getting a foul pop out to Brad Wood.
 
"This group continues to work and play hard and deserved to win this hard fought series," Kunigonis said. "We will enjoy this win today then get ready for Valpo on Tuesday and CMU for another big MAC series."
 
NIU baseball will head back on the road this week with a midweek game at Valparaiso and a three-game series against MAC West leading Central Michigan. The Huskies have moved to fourth place overall in the MAC standings, looking to improve their spot for the MAC tournament.