MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The NIU baseball team (15-31, 9-9 MAC) dropped the rubber game against Central Michigan (25-21, 13-5 MAC) 3-1 Sunday afternoon. The Huskies' only run came in the 9^th inning after the CMU starter, Tyler Hankins, pitched eight and two-thirds innings allowing just the one run.
 
"Disappointing finish to the weekend," Head Coach Mike Kunigonis said. "It took eight innings to make an adjustment at the plate and unfortunately when we did, it was too little, too late."
 
The Huskies got a quality combined performance on the mound from regular closer Ryne Blanton getting a spot start for the injured Donovin Sims. Blanton went four innings allowing three runs, one earned on six hits. Freshman Blake Walker was the only pitcher out of the bullpen for NIU because of his success, going four shutout innings allowing only three hits.
 
The most successful NIU hitters were Jesus Tovar III and Tommy Szczasny who each had multi-hit games at the plate. Tovar went 3-3 with a walk in the ninth inning and Szczasny went 2-4 with a double in the ninth inning.
 
Central Michigan got their three runs in the second and third innings, getting a solo home run in the second and scoring twice in the third after an error. NIU moves to 9-9 in conference play with six games remaining on their Mid-American Conference schedule.
 
"We need to get through finals week and get prepared for EMU," Kunigonis said. "It will be nice once we are done with school to focus on baseball in this critical two-week stretch."
 
The Huskies will not have a mid-week game this week before their final home series of the weekend against Eastern Michigan. Saturday will be senior day for NIU Baseball and Sunday will serve as graduation day with ceremonies on the field for each occasion.