NIU baseball (4-4) faced the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Cougars (2-7) on Friday in a doubleheader. The Huskies won 5-4 in a comeback victory in Game 1 and secured an 8-4 seven inning-win in Game 2.
GAME 1
NIU struck in the first inning with a home run from senior outfielder CJ Cepicky giving the Huskies a 2-0 lead.
SIUE fought back in the fourth inning, taking advantage of an error by junior infielder Ben Loyd. Cougars junior infielder Ethan Willoughby singled and drove in two unearned runs, tying the game at 2-2.
The Cougars struck again in the eighth inning with a sacrifice flyout from redshirt senior outfielder Kyle Ratliff, making the score 3-2.
The Huskies rallied in the ninth inning with a solo home run from senior infielder/outfielder Andrew Smart. Loyd was able to bring two more runs home with a clutch single and an error by SIUE senior outfielder Gage Franck, pulling ahead with a score of 5-3.
Redshirt junior pitcher Adam Brouwer struck out 13 batters over 6 innings Sophomore pitcher Danny Cihocki relieved Brouwer in the seventh inning, striking out 5 batters and earning the win. NIU redshirt senior pitcher Zach Hise came in the ninth inning and was credited with the save.
The two pitchers combined for 17 strikeouts, 1 walk and 2 earned runs.
SIUE threatened to tie the game after an RBI double from graduate student infielder Lane Crowden, but Hise was able to shut the door on the SIUE offense, earning the save and completing the comeback with a score of 5-4.
GAME 2
SIUE got on the board first with a solo home run from Willoughby in the top of the first inning.
The Huskies answered in the third inning with a three-run home run from junior catcher Logan Gregorio, pulling ahead by a score of 3-1.
NIU continued the scoring in the fourth inning with a solo home run from senior outfielder Gavin Baldwin. A double from Loyd brought home Cepicky for a 5-1 lead. Another run was driven in when senior catcher Kaden Kosobucki was hit by a pitch with bases loaded, putting the Huskies up by five.
SIUE was able to earn back a run with a bases-loaded walk in the fourth, bringing home a run to make the score 6-2. NIU erased this run with a sixth inning RBI double from Gregorio to retake the 5 run lead. The Cougars fought to come back in the game with a single from sophomore outfielder Daniel Gierer that brought home 2 runs, trimming NIU’s lead to 7-4.
The Huskies added one final run when a single from Cepicky drove in freshman outfielder Jalen House in the top of the seventh.
Sophomore pitcher Ty Brachbill started on the mound for the Huskies. In 5.2 innings, he struck out 7 batters while conceding 4 earned runs. Freshman pitcher Carter Cox came on in relief in the fifth inning but failed to record an out in the game, allowing a hit and hitting a batter by a pitch. Redshirt junior pitcher Mason Ruh pitched for 1.1 innings, striking out 2 batters and earning the save in the game.
The three pitchers combined for 9 strikeouts, 1 walk and 4 earned runs.
The Cougars remained scoreless the rest of the game, giving the Huskies an 8-4 victory in seven innings.
UP NEXT
The Huskies continue their series against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Sunday. A live stream will be available on ESPN+.
