TULSA, Okla. - The Northern Illinois University baseball team opened its 2023 season on Friday afternoon, battling early with the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles before ORU's offense came alive in the middle innings of a 16-2 win at J.L. Johnson Stadium.
 
NIU (0-1) put a run on the board in the top of the first. Kaden Kosobucki (West De Pere, Wis./West De Pere) notched the first hit of the season with a one-out double down the left field line. Colin Summerhill then hit a double to deep centerfield, driving in Kosobucki to give the Huskies an early 1-0 lead. ORU answered in the bottom of the inning. With two runners on base and two out, Matt Hogan hit a three-run home run off of NIU starting pitcher Dominic Hann (Washington, Mich./Michigan State) to put the Golden Eagles up 3-1.
 
The Huskies got a run back in the top of the fourth. Andrew Smart (Evanston, Ill./Oakton CC) laced a double to right field with one out. After a strikeout, Aaron Harper (Hemet, Calif./Mt. San Jacinto College) reached on an infield single. ORU shortstop Mac McCroskey went up the middle to get the ball but threw it wide of first base, which allowed Smart to score and make the total 3-2.
 
"We came out right away ready to play and showed it getting on the board early," said head coach Mike Kunigonis. "ORU answered but we showed some grit battling to get back within a run."
 
Oral Roberts (1-0) went back up two runs, 4-2, in the fifth when McCroskey led off the inning with a home run. The Golden Eagles broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth, getting a pair two-run home runs from McCroskey and Jacob Godman as part of a five-run frame that made the score 9-2. ORU then scored seven runs in the seventh that made the final score 16-2.
 
"Some first game jitters and miscues crept in and we made too many mistakes," Kunigonis said. "They made us pay for them which is what good teams do. We'll bounce back tomorrow and be ready to go for the doubleheader."
 
NIU had six hits on the day. Junior second baseman Jake Nelson (Altoona, Wis./Madison College) recorded his first career hit as a Huskie along with Smart and Summerhill. Nelson singled down the right field line in the top of the fifth. Freshman Jake Kohanzo (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) threw a scoreless eighth inning in his NIU debut.
 
The Huskies and Golden Eagles will play a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 18. First pitch of game one is set for 2 p.m. CT.
 
--NIU--