DeKALB, IL – A stellar start from pitcher
Adam Brouwer (Tinley Park, Ill./Illinois-Springfield) and a five-run third inning propelled the Northern Illinois University baseball team to a 7-3 win over the Kent State Golden Flashes Saturday afternoon at Ralph McKinzie Field at Walt and Janice Owens Park.
"We did a good job of taking what Kent State gave us, especially when it mattered most," said head coach
Ryan Copeland following the Huskies' first home win of the year. "That was really good to see. We left quite a few runners on the base that could have broken the game open, but we found a way to win."
Kent State (18-18, 9-8 MAC) opened the scoring in the top of the second inning. The Golden Flashes had a runner at first with two outs when an error kept the inning alive. Brouwer walked Ripken Reese to load the bases for Josh Johnson. The Golden Flashes' centerfielder ripped a single through the right side of the infield to plate two runs and put Kent State ahead.
NIU (12-25, 7-10 MAC) responded in the bottom of the third. The Huskies loaded the bases with no outs on walks to
Eric Erato (Sussex, Wis./Sussex Hamilton) and
CJ Cepicky (St. Louis, Mo./Missouri), as well as a
Colin Summerhill (Chicago, Ill./Troy) single. Kent State starting pitcher Joe Miceli retired the next two Huskies before
Charlie Parcell (Des Plaines, Ill./Maine West) drew a walk to bring home Erato and make the score 3-1. Summerhill scored on a wild pitch to get the Huskies within a run, 3-2. A throwing error by catcher Brody Williams allowed Cepicky to score and tie the game.
Spencer Bartel (Sun Prairie, Wis./Madison College) put NIU ahead with a base hit to right field, bringing in Parcell to make the score 4-3. A walk to
Andre Demetral (Rochester, Mich./Florence-Darling Tech) and a
Jake Nelson (Altoona, Wis./Madison College) infield single loaded the bases for Erato. In his second plate appearance of the inning, Erato hit a single up the middle to score Bartel and put NIU ahead 5-3.
Brouwer kept the Huskies in front on the mound. After surrendering the two runs in the second, the redshirt-sophomore allowed just two hits over the next five innings. The Huskies flashed the leather in the outfield with Bartel making a diving catch into foul territory in the top of the third and Cepicky robbing Reese of a home run at the left field wall with a leaping grab in the fourth.
"Opportunities to make big plays are going to allow you to have a chance to win, especially with runners on base," Copeland said. "Spencer's play was unbelievable, especially battling the wind out there. CJ's play was a gamechanger. If they get that home run, they get a little momentum back."
The Huskies grew their lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the sixth when Parcell drove in
Mason Kelley (Mt. Washington, Ky./Schoolcraft College) with a triple to right field. NIU put another insurance run on the board in the seventh on a bases loaded walk to
Cooper Cohn (McHenry, Ill./McHenry) that made the score 7-2.
Brouwer threw a season-high 7.2 innings, allowing just one earned run on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
"He was outstanding today after struggling in his last two outings. If there was a guy that was going to bounce back and help us get a win it was Adam. He's done that for us all year. He just pitched and found a way to compete and gave us 7.2 innings when we really needed it."
The Huskies drew 12 walks as a team. Cepicky had three free passes, going 1-for-2 with a run scored. Erato and Parcell each had two hits and combined to drive in three runs. Nelson extended his hitting streak to 10 games, the longest for a Huskie this season.
NIU and Kent State wrap up this weekend's series on Sunday, April 21 at 1 p.m.
--NIU--
