DeKALB, IL - The Northern Illinois University baseball team scored seven runs on 12 hits, but it was the Central Michigan Chippewas who took advantage of 10 walks and key hits to win 17-7 on Saturday afternoon at Ralph McKinzie Field at Walt and Janice Owens Park.
 
Central Michigan (17-12, 7-4 MAC) loaded the bases in the top of the first on a Justin Simpson infield single, a walk to Jacob Donahue and Marquis Jackson being hit by a Jacob Wilde (Waukesha, Wis./Madison College) pitch. Wilde then walked Robby Morgan to bring in the first run of the game. Luke Sefcik followed with a two-run single up the middle to put the Chippewas ahead 3-0.
 
NIU (5-24, 2-9 MAC) put a run on the board in the bottom of the first. Andre Demetral (Rochester, Mich./Florence Darling Tech) singled up the middle with one out, then stole second base. After a flyout, Colin Summerhill (Chicago, Ill./Troy) delivered a double to score Demetral and make the score 3-1. The Huskies closed within a run in the second inning. Parker Shupe (Johnston, Iowa/Kirkwood CC) drew a leadoff walk, then got to third after an errant pickoff throw from CMU's Keegan Batka. Mason Kelley (Mt. Washington, Ky./Schoolcraft College) drove him home with a single to centerfield, making the score 3-2. Batka held NIU to that one run with three straight flyouts to end the inning.
 
The Chippewas extended their lead in the top of the third, scoring five runs to take an 8-2 lead. Back-to-back bases loaded walks to Donahue and Jackson made the score 7-2, with a wild pitch scoring Simpson for the 8-2 advantage. The Huskies got a run back in the bottom of the inning when a Kaden Kosobucki (West De Pere, Wis./West De Pere) double scored Aaron Harper (Hemet, Calif./Mt. San Jacinto CC) and made the score 8-3.
 
CMU scored six runs in the fourth on just two hits, drawing five walks to take a 14-3 lead. The Chippewas led 16-3 before the Huskies scored four times in the sixth. NIU loaded the bases on singles by Kelley and Eric Erato (Sussex, Wis./Sussex Hamilton) and a walk to Demetral. Harper drew a walk to bring home Kelley and make the score 16-4. Summerhill singled up the middle to plate two runs and put the score at 16-6. After a Kosobucki single loaded the bases, Thierry was hit by a pitch to score Harper and make the score 16-7.
 
"We made an adjustment offensively and we were able to score some runs," said head coach Mike Kunigonis. "You just can't give up the amount of free bases like we did today to a really good team. We just have to find a way to put it all together tomorrow."
 
Summerhill was 3-for-4 with three runs batted in. Kosobucki and Harper each had two hits. Demetral's single extended his hitting streak to eight games. Conner Lutes (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville) and DJ Hess (Germantown, Wis./College of Lake County) each allowed a run in two innings of relief.
 
The series wraps up on Sunday, April 9 at 12 p.m. CT.
 
--NIU--