EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northern Illinois University baseball team scored a program record 27 runs and also drew a program-record 17 walks on Tuesday in a 27-11 seven-inning win over the Northwestern Wildcats at Rocky and Berenice Miller Park.
"We had a tough weekend at Ball State and sometimes all you need is a change in scenery," said head coach Ryan Copeland. "We felt confident coming in here after playing really well and swinging the bats last year. We challenged our guys to stay at it offensively and make sure we stayed in the strike zone. Once we got the lead, we stayed relentless and were on the barrel one through nine. Everybody was dangerous and had good at-bats."
NIU's previous record for runs was 22 which the Huskies reached twice in the 2000 season. Wednesday's game marked the second time NIU broke its single-game walk record. The Huskies had 16 walks in their 21-2 win at Nicholls on Feb. 16. This is NIU's second consecutive win over a Big Ten team this year, as well as its second straight win over the Wildcats. It's the first time NIU has beaten multiple Big Ten teams in a season since 2003 when the Huskies earned wins over Michigan, Illinois and Iowa.
Another piece of NIU baseball history was made on Tuesday as senior outfielder CJ Cepicky (St. Louis, Mo./Missouri) became the first Huskie to hit two grand slams in the same game. His slam over the right centerfield wall in the second inning put NIU ahead 5-1. He came up to bat with the bases loaded again in the top of the seventh and cracked his second grand slam to left center, making the score 27-10 and putting an exclamation point on the Huskies' record-setting offensive outburst. His eight RBI on the day tied the NIU single-game individual record, last set by Alex Jones against Western Michigan on May 14, 2009.
"I don't think I'd ever hit a grand slam before, let alone two home runs in the same game," Cepicky said after his big day. "To do it against a Big Ten team was special. I've been struggling a bit and the guys picked me up. This is the momentum we needed. It's our second Big Ten win of the year. It shows how good of a team we are when we pitch, hit and field and put it all together."
NIU (13-22) led 5-2 after two innings and broke the game open in the third. JP Gauthier (De Pere, Wis./Illinois State) was hit by a pitch and got to second on an Andrew Smart (Evanston, Ill./Oakton CC) single. Ben Loyd (Pleasant Prairie, Wis./Kaskaskia College) then hit a double down the left field line to score both runners and give the Huskies a 7-2 lead. Cooper Cohn (McHenry, Ill./McHenry) followed with a double of his own to bring in Loyd and make the score 8-2. After a Cepicky walk, Charlie Parcell (Des Plaines, Ill./Maine West) got his third hit of the game with a bunt single to Owen McElfatrick at third base, who threw the ball out of play which allowed Cepicky to score. Logan Gregorio (Naperville, Ill./Benedictine) then launched a three-run home run to left center to put NIU up 12-2.
The Huskies tacked on three more runs in the fourth to go up 16-2. NIU put six runs on the board in the top of the sixth. Parcell capped the inning with a three-run double to right center that gave him five RBI on the day and the Huskies a 22-5 lead.
"As Charlie goes, our offense goes," Copeland said. "He's done a much better job of working deeper counts. It helps our offense and especially Logan and Gavin right behind him. It was a really good day for him."
Eight of the nine Huskies in the batting order drove in a run on Tuesday. Parcell had a career-high four hits and five RBI. Gregorio also drove in five runs, tying a season-high while hitting his 14th home run of the year. Loyd was 2-for-2 with three walks, four RBI and five runs scored. Cepicky also scored five runs from the nine-spot in the lineup.
Danny Cihocki (Princeton, Ill./Lake Land College) started on the mound and went 3.2 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Mason Ruh (Milwaukee, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran HS) earned the win, going 1.1 scoreless innings.
"Danny threw the ball better than his line says," said Copeland. "It was a tough day to pitch with a quick field and the wind blowing out. He looked the part and made it tough on them. I liked how he threw the ball. We treated this like a must-win, and we threw our good arms to find a way to win today."
NIU opens a three-game Mid-American Conference series on Thursday, April 17 against the Akron Zips at Ralph McKinzie Field at Walt and Janice Owens Park. First pitch is at 3 p.m.
—NIU—
