DeKALB, IL – The Northern Illinois University baseball team got a walk-off grand slam from sophomore Eric Erato (Sussex, Wis./Sussex Hamilton) in the 10^th inning of the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Eastern Michigan Eagles for a 12-8 win that swept the twinbill. The Huskies took the opener 9-5 in seven innings.
 
"Today was great for our team," said head coach Mike Kunigonis following Saturday's sweep. "Our guys never gave up and kept battling. We came up with some big hits in big spots and played clean defense."
 
NIU (11-33, 10-18 MAC) rallied from a 6-0 deficit in the nightcap, scoring seven runs in the bottom of the seventh to take a 7-6 lead. The comeback started with a leadoff single from Malik Peters (Calumet City, Ill./Mount Carmel), who later stole second base. A one-out base hit from Paxton Kennedy (Mendota, Ill./Illinois Valley CC) gave the Huskies runners at the corners. Aaron Harper (Hemet, Calif./Mt. San Jacinto College) drove in Peters with a single for NIU's first run. Mason Kelley (Mt. Washington, Ky./Schoolcraft College) loaded the bases with a single. After a flyout for the second out, Matt Barnes (Bloomington, Ill./Heartland CC) doubled down the left field line to score two runs and make the score 6-3.
 
The Huskies then drew three straight walks off of Eastern Michigan relievers Frankie Volkers and Trevor House, getting within a run at 6-5 following a bases-loaded walk to Peters. Scott Combs (Northville, Mich./Michigan State) then hit a groundball to Aaron Dolney at first base. Dolney flipped the ball to the pitcher House covering first, but House dropped the ball which allowed two runs to score and put NIU ahead 7-6.
 
Eastern Michigan (19-27, 13-17 MAC) tied the game 7-7 in the top of the eighth on a two-out RBI single off the bat of Shane Easter. NIU answered with a two-out run scoring hit of its own in the bottom half of the inning. With runners at second and third, Erato lined a single to left to score Harper and give the Huskies' an 8-7 lead. Barnes attempted to score from second on the play but was thrown out at home.
 
The Eagles tied the game again in the top of the ninth when Daniel Warkentin hit a two-out run-scoring double off of Michael Lasiewicz (McHenry, Ill./McHenry) to level the game at 8-8. Eastern Michigan reliever Nick Chittum retired NIU in order in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extra innings.
 
Lasiewicz walked the tightrope in the 10^th, but left two Eagles on base to give NIU a chance to win the game. Chittum retired the first two Huskies in the bottom of the 10^th, but he hit Kelley with a pitch to keep the game alive. Pinch-hitter Tyler Thierry (Bloomington, Ill./Heartland CC) drew a walk, as did Barnes to load the bases for Erato. The sophomore second baseman unloaded a fly ball down the right field line for the walk-off grand slam, his second home run of the year, and a 12-8 NIU win.
 
"Eric has been one of our leaders this season, and leaders come up with big hits like he did in game two", Kunigonis said.
 
Erato was 2-for-5 with five RBI in game two. Barnes was 1-for-3 with two RBI, two runs scored, and three walks.
 
In game one, NIU used a seven-run second inning to take a 9-3 lead. A two-run single from designated hitter Carlos Aranda (Santo Domingo, D.R./Ellsworth CC) put the Huskies up 4-3. After a walk to Barnes loaded the bases, an Erato groundout to first base scored Kelley and put NIU ahead 5-3. Brandon Johnson (Rochelle, Ill./Rochelle Twp.) kept the inning alive with a walk to load the bases once again. Peters then delivered a two-run single, bringing home Aranda and Barnes to make the score 7-3. Combs then drew a walk and a wild pitch allowed Johnson to score NIU's eighth run. Another wild pitch later in the inning brought in Peters and put NIU up 9-3.
 
The combination of Matt Salomonson (Chicago, Ill./Notre Dame College Prep) and Nick Bonk (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Stevenson) made that lead hold up on the mound for the Huskies. Salomonson started on the mound and struck out four Eagles in four innings, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks. Only one of his runs allowed was earned. Bonk entered the game in the fifth, allowing just one run on two hits with a career-high five strikeouts to get the save in a 9-5 NIU victory.
 
"Salomonson gave us a great go and then Bonk came in and shut the door with three lights out innings," said Kunigonis. "We had some timely hitting and capitalized on some of Eastern Michigan's mistakes."
 
The Huskies and Eagles wrap up their weekend series on Sunday, May 8 with a doubleheader beginning with a seven-inning game at 11 a.m. CT. Between games, NIU will hold a special Spring Sports Commencement for seniors from the Baseball and Track & Field teams who will not be able to attend next weekend's graduation on campus.
 
--NIU--