NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Scott Combs (Northville, Mich./Michigan State), Eric Erato (Sussex, Wis./Sussex Hamilton) and Malik Peters (Calumet City, Ill./Mount Carmel) each drove in a pair of runs but the Northern Illinois University baseball team fell to Lipscomb, 8-7, on Saturday afternoon (March 5) at Dugan Field as the Bisons scratched across a run in the bottom of the ninth.
 
Kyle Seebach (Rochelle, Ill./Rochelle Township) took a no-decision on the mound for the Huskies, throwing 6.2 innings, giving up just six hits and two runs while striking out four.
 
"Kyle gave us a great start and we had some timely hits today," said head coach Mike Kunigonis. "It was another tough battle but we showed a ton of heart out there."
 
NIU (0-10) scored a run in each of the first two innings. Matt Barnes (Bloomington, Ill./Heartland CC) drew a leadoff walk to open the game and, two batters later, scored a on sacrifice fly by Erato to centerfield. In the second, Peters hit a two-out, solo home run to left to give NIU a 2-0 lead.
 
Lipscomb (6-4) scored two runs in the fourth to tie the game as Bisons had four singles in the inning, including two-out singles from Rudy Maxwell and Mason Lundgrin that each drove in a run.
 
NIU scratched across a pair of runs in the top of the fifth in retake a two-run lead. Barnes was hit by a pitch to leadoff the inning and, after advancing on an error, scored on a single to left by Erato. Following an Aaron Harper (Hemet, Calif./Mt. San Jacinto College) walk, Combs singled through the left side, driving in Erato to give the Huskies a 4-2 lead.
 
In the sixth, the Huskies scored another run as Paddy McKermitt (Hampshire, Ill./Burlington Central) reached on an error and then came home on a sacrifice fly by Peters.
 
NIU added another run in the eighth to take a 6-2 lead as Barnes drew a two-out walk and scored on a Lipscomb error.
 
The Bisons scored five in the bottom of the eighth to go in front, 7-6. With two on and one out, Malik Williams hit a two-RBI single up the middle. Two batters later, Williams would score on a two-out single from Lundgrin. Ethan Stamps and August Haymaker would also drive in runs for the home team as Lipscomb took a one-run lead. 
 
Lundgrin went 3-for-4 at the plate, driving in a pair of runs for the Bisons.
 
In the top of the ninth, NIU tied the game at seven on an RBI single by Combs. Harper drew a one-out walk and stole second before Combs singled through the left side to tie the game.
 
Lipscomb scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth to earn an 8-7 win. John Shields led off the inning with a single. He advanced to second on a walk and third on a flyout before which gave Maxwell the opportunity to drive in the winning run with a single through the right side.
 
Trey Nordmann pitched an inning and recorded the win for the Bisons, Caleb Pittman threw 0.2 of an inning and took the loss for the Huskies.
 
"We are clawing and scratching for every inch right now," Kunigonis said. "We may have hit a rough patch but it'll pay off for us as we get into MAC play."
 
NIU and Lipscomb will play the third, and final, game of their three-game set on Sunday, March 6. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
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