DeKALB – NIU baseball (5-21, 2-7 MAC) dropped the final game of a three-game series against the Xavier University Musketeers (16-12) 3-2 Sunday. The Musketeers earned their sixth consecutive win en route to a series sweep over the Huskies. 

The Huskies used six different pitchers who combined to allow three earned runs on five hits. Senior pitcher Luke Bell got the start for Xavier. Bell allowed two earned runs on three hits in five innings pitched. 

Xavier sophomore pitcher Justin Loer earned the win, while NIU senior pitcher Brandon Doty suffered the loss. 

“It was a pitchers duel today and we did enough to be right there but not enough to win,” NIU baseball head coach Mike Kunigonis said via NIU Athletics. “We had some opportunities offensively but didn’t convert when we had our chances.”

Junior catcher Colin Summerhill went 1-for-2 with a walk, while driving in both NIU runs. Junior infielder Andre Demetral went 1-for-2 with a walk and a triple. 

The Huskies plated the first run of the game in the top of the second inning with a solo home run from Summerhill to take a 1-0 lead. 

Xavier senior designated hitter Tyler DeMartino stayed hot for the Musketeers, launching his third home run of the series in the bottom of the third inning off of junior pitcher Jackson Stewart to take a 2-1 lead.

Summerhill once again came through for the Huskies in the top of the sixth inning with a sacrifice fly to score Demetral and even the score at 2-2. 

After scoreless appearances from NIU sophomore pitcher Tommy Meyer and redshirt sophomore pitcher Matt Salomonson following Stewart, the Musketeers took the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning. Junior catcher Matthew DePrey delivered a go-ahead sacrifice fly off of Doty to give Xavier a 3-2 lead heading into the ninth inning.

Xavier graduate pitcher Clay Schwaner pitched a three up, three down top of the ninth inning to earn the save and secure the 3-2 win for the Musketeers.

LOOKING FORWARD

The Huskies will look to snap their four game losing streak in their next game against the University of Illinois Chicago at 6:05 p.m. Tuesday at Curtis Granderson Field. Live stats will be available via SideArm Stats.