For NIU baseball coach Spanky McFarland, it’s too bad the season doesn’t go any longer, for his Huskies are just starting to hit their stride.

After an 0-18 start, NIU has now won 10 of its last 15 games, including three out of four games last weekend at home against Northern Iowa and University of Chicago.

The hosts split with their future Mid-Continent foe UNI Friday, dropping the opener 11-6 before rebounding to win 9-0 in the nightcap. On Saturday, the Huskies beat UC twice, 8-4 in game one, and 7-2 in game two.

Saturday’s game marked the final home date of the 1991 season, and NIU responded with two strong performances. In game one, Josh Brown allowed just two runs over six innings to record his third win of the season.

NIU broke the game open with two runs in the fourth, and three in the fifth. In the fourth, Jeff Carnes laced a double to score Horace Woods, who had previously singled. Carnes stole third and scored on Mike Gardner’s ground out.

“Jeff played great this afternoon,” McFarland said.

Paul Schimbke went the distance in the second game, allowing two runs on five hits. The southpaw was shaky early, allowing two first-inning runs. But he then shut the door, allowing only two singles and one walk the rest of the way.

The Huskies had eight hits and scored four in the first, and three in the sixth. They made no errors in the game.

On Friday, the Huskies had plenty of offense, but not enough pitching in the opener, as the Panthers of UNI snapped the Huskies’ four-game winning streak.

NIU accumulated six hits and scored one run in each of the first three innings. But UNI scored in the top of the third on a three-run home run by Mike Morony. The Panthers then put up six in the fourth, batting around to knock out losing starter Mike Young.

NIU started a new winning streak in game two. Matt Duffy struck out four en route to a four-hitter and his second win of the year. The Huskies gave the freshman all the runs he needed in the first, scoring four times with two out in the first.