MARION, IL – Senior first baseman Jordan Larson's (Dodgeville, Wis./College of DuPage) two-run single in the top of the eighth proved to be the difference Sunday as the Northern Illinois University baseball team defeated the Chicago State Cougars 6-4 at Rent One Park.
 
"This group continues to find a way to win," said head coach Mike Kunigonis after the Huskies' third win of the weekend and seventh in the last nine games. "It wasn't a pretty game today, but we battled and found a way to win late."
 
Chicago State (2-10) scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game 4-4 heading into the eighth inning. With a runner at first and one out, Brady Huebbe (Peru, Ill./Illinois Valley C.C.) crushed a double to centerfield to give the Huskies runners at second and third. Cougars reliever J.D. Brooks intentionally walked Jake Dunham (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) to load the bases. Larson then stepped up to the plate and delivered a single to left center, scoring two runs to make the score 6-4. The Cougars loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the ninth but Nate Thomas (South Bend, Ind./Mishawaka Marian) sealed the win by getting a popout to end the game.
 
NIU (7-5) scored first in the top of the second. Dunham led off the inning with a single, followed by back-to-back walks by Larson and Dylan Lonteen (Peoria, Ill./Illinois Central College). Dunham scored on a wild pitch for the game's first run. Kam Smith (Colonial Beach, Va./The Steward School) then crushed a double to straightaway centerfield to score Larson and Lonteen to make the score 3-0. Smith advanced to third on another wild pitch, then scored on a Paddy McKermitt (Hampshire, Ill./Burlington Central) single to right field that put the Huskies ahead 4-0.
 
Starting pitcher Erik Hedmark (Algonquin, Ill./Dundee-Crown) allowed just one baserunner in the first three innings on a walk, striking out three Cougars in the process. Chicago State got its first hit in the game in the bottom of the fourth on a lead-off double by Alex Gaytan. After a wild pitch put Gaytan on third, Anthony Urso reached on an RBI infield single to make the score 4-1. The Cougars loaded the bases with no outs but Hedmark got out the jam by getting Patrick Arndt to line into a double play and Judah Wilbur to fly out to end the threat. Chicago State had runners on first and second with two out in the fifth when Kyle Seebach (Rochelle, Ill./Rochelle Twp.) entered the game in relief of Hedmark and struck out Urso to keep NIU ahead.
 
Six Huskies had a hit on the day as Dunham went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base. Larson and Smith each had two RBI. Thomas earned the win in relief, throwing three scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and two walks with three strikeouts.
 
NIU returns to southern Illinois on Friday, March 6 to open a three-game series against the Southern Illinois Salukis. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
 
--NIU--