MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The NIU baseball team (15-30, 9-8 MAC) dropped a high scoring affair to Central Michigan (24-21, 12-5 MAC) 12-9 as the Chippewas evened the three-game series on Saturday. The Huskies outhit CMU 16-14 but NIU was unable sustain a comeback allowing Central Michigan to score after NIU had score in three different innings.
"We fought hard all day and kept battling," Head Coach
Mike Kunigonis said. "But it's tough to be playing catch up right out of the gate."
Central Michigan scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning with two separate two-run home runs off of NIU starter
Nathan Thomas. The Huskies scored one run in the second inning and three runs in the fourth to come within one run at 5-4 but CMU scored two in the bottom of the fourth and three in the sixth to push their lead up to 10-5.
At the plate, junior center fielder
Roderick Bynum had three hits for the second consecutive game going 3-4 with three runs and two RBIs including two triples in his first two at bats.
Samuel Vega also produced a three-hit game going 3-6 with a run and an RBI with four Huskies getting two hits each in
Tommy Hook,
Tommy Szczasny,
Joe Jumonville and
Mike Roberson.
"It was another offensive day and we had a chance to either tie the game or take the lead right until the very last out," Kunigonis said.
Thomas only lasted one inning after surrendering the four runs on four hits and three walks as
William Anderson came in out of the bullpen pitching four innings and giving up six runs, five earned, on eight hits and three walks of his own.
Andrew Frankenreider pitched two innings for the Huskies in relief, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks with
Eric Hammer pitching a shutout inning in the eighth with a walk and a strikeout.
"We need to forget about this game immediately and get ready to win the series tomorrow," Kunigonis said.
The rubber game of this series will take place tomorrow at 12:05 p.m. CT with a chance for the Huskies to win their tenth MAC game this season. For updates on any game time change keep an eye on Twitter @NIU_Baseball and on niuhuskies.com.