NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Northern Illinois University baseball team led 6-2 going into the bottom of the eighth against the Lipscomb Bisons, but the hosts put six runs on the board and hung on for an 8-7 win in the series opener between the two teams at Dugan Field.
 
"We need to limit the big innings," said head coach Mike Kunigonis. "We need to find ways to make pitches and make plays when we need them the most."
 
Lipscomb (5-4) put two runs on the board in the bottom of the first on a Trace Willhoite RBI double and a run-scoring single off the bat of Rudy Maxwell. The Huskies got a run back in the top of the third inning. Matt Barnes (Bloomington, Ill./Heartland C.C.) led off with a walk, then stole second base. Andre Demetral (Rochester, Mich./Florence Darling Tech) then singled up the middle to drive home Barnes, making the score 2-1 as he took second base on the throw to the plate.
 
NIU (0-9) took the lead in the top of the fifth. Demetral started the rally with a two-out walk, followed by Eric Erato (Sussex, Wis./Sussex Hamilton) drawing a base on balls. Lipscomb went to the bullpen for reliever Chandler Giles. Aaron Harper (Hemet, Calif./Mt. San Jacinto College) tied the game with an RBI single to right field, scoring Demetral to make the score 2-2. Mason Kelley (Mt. Washington, Ky./Schoolcraft College) then cleared the bases with a two-run single, giving NIU a 4-2 lead.
 
After allowing those two runs in the first inning, NIU starting pitcher Reagan Klawiter (Verona, Wis./Madison College) kept the Bisons off the scoreboard for the next five frames. Klawiter allowed just three hits in that stretch with five strikeouts.
 
The Huskies extended the lead in the top of the eighth. With the bases loaded and one out, Barnes executed a squeeze bunt to bring home Kaden Kosobucki (West De Pere, Wis./West De Pere) and make the score 5-2. Scott Combs (Northville, Mich./Michigan State) scored on a M Bohnert wild pitch to put NIU up 6-2.
 
Lipscomb came roaring back in the bottom half of the eighth. The Bisons loaded the bases with a Ma Williams double, an error that allowed Maxwell to reach base, and a Mason Lundgrin walk off of NIU reliever Sam Pederson (Verona, Wis./McHenry C.C.). Ethan Stamps made the score 6-3 with an infield RBI single. Hayden Skipper then drew a walk to bring home Maxwell and cut the NIU lead to 6-4. Matt Salomonson (Chicago, Ill./Notre Dame College Prep) came in from the bullpen to get Caleb Ketchup to fly out for the first out of the inning, but John Shields delivered a grand slam to put Lipscomb up 8-6.
 
NIU had a chance to tie the game in the ninth. Harper, Kosobucki, and Malik Peters (Calumet City, Ill./Mount Carmel) each drew a walk off of Trey Nordmann to load the bases with one out. Matthew Maldonado then came in to pitch for the Bisons and struck out Combs for the second out. Paxton Kennedy (Mendota, Ill./Illinois Valley C.C.) then came on as a pinch-hitter and drew a walk to score Harper and make the score 8-7. However Maldonado closed the door on the Huskies' rally with a strikeout of Barnes to end the game.
 
Klawiter allowed just two runs on six hits in six innings on Friday, striking out five batters. At the plate, Harper went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Demetral was 1-for-3 with an RBI and two walks.
 
"Reagan gave us a great start and was the guy we know he can be," Kunigonis said. "We need to build on that performance and bounce back tomorrow."
 
The two teams are back in action on Saturday, March 5 at 2 p.m.
 
--NIU--