IOWA CITY, IA – The Northern Illinois University baseball team travels to Duane Banks Field for a single game with Big Ten Conference opponent the University of Iowa at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Tuesday's meeting will be the fourth matchup in as many years between the Huskies and Hawkeyes (32nd overall – Iowa leads 22-9), and although NIU hasn't seen success in the win column, they've played some of their toughest baseball in the Hawkeye State.

"We're looking forward to a good game," Huskies' head coach Mike Kunigonis said. "It's always nice to have an opportunity to beat a power five conference school."

Last season's contest showcased some clutch hitting from the Huskies. Then freshman Tommy Szczasny (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln-Way North) had the strongest day for NIU as he finished 2 for 4 at the dish with three RBI, including a two-run home run. Jake Dunham (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) also drove in a pair and gave the Huskies an early lead in the contest with a two-run single in the first inning. Despite a five-run bottom half of the first from the Hawkeyes, the Huskies did reclaim the lead later in the contest at 6-5 when Scooter Bynum (Fairbanks, Alaska /Arizona Western College) laced a run-scoring single to right field. But a late three-run rally in the sixth led Iowa to the victory.

"Iowa is a very good team and will be a great test for us," Kunigonis said.

Of the past three contests, none were as close as the 2015 matchup in which the Hawkeyes, ranked No. 17 nationally at the time, nipped NIU 4-3 in 11 innings. Twice the Huskies took leads in the first inning on a Brad Wood (Orland Park, Ill./St. Laurence) RBI fielder's choice, and again in the fifth on a sacrifice fly and an RBI double, but Iowa scored a single run in the ninth to tie the score and ultimately won the contest in the eleventh on a bases-loaded walk. 

NIU hopes to snap its three-game losing streak after the Huskies lost a Mid-American Conference series to Kent State over the weekend. Despite the losses, senior Joe Jumonville (Munster, Ind./Munster) had a strong series as he led the Huskie offense with a .429 batting average and a double. Szczasny also drove in three runs and carried a .273 batting average.

On the mound, junior Tanner Foster (St. Charles, Iowa/Southeastern Community College) turned in the best performance for NIU as he carried a 1.50 earned run average with a .280 opponents' batting average. He scattered seven hits, but struck out a season-high 10 batters.

Sophomore RHP Blake Walker will take the mound for NIU Tuesday, while the Hawkeyes' starter is yet to be determined. Walker comes into the contest with a 1-1 record and a 3.38 earned run average. He earned his first win of the year over the University of Illinois-Chicago March 27 where he worked five strong innings and struck out three batters. 

--NIU--