NIU baseball (7-13, 1-8 MAC) faced the Central Michigan University Chippewas (9-15, 5-1 MAC) on Saturday in a doubleheader. The Huskies lost 11-6 in extra innings in Game 1 and 8-4 in Game 2.
“Today we just weren’t very good offensively,” said NIU baseball head coach Ryan Copeland. “We weren’t very dangerous offensively today, on an offensive day, and they hit 11 home runs in the series. I believe we hit two.”
GAME 1
The Chippewas built an early 5-0 lead with home runs from junior infielder Aaron Piasecki, freshman infielder/pitcher Cayden Smith and sophomore infielder/outfielder Nathan Ball. NIU responded with three runs, with back-to-back bases-loaded walks and an RBI double from sophomore outfielder Charlie Parcell, cutting the lead to two with a 5-3 score to close the fifth inning.
Trailing 6-5 in the ninth inning, junior infielder Ben Loyd came up with a clutch RBI double down the line, forcing the game into extras. A clutch solo home run in the 10th inning from Central Michigan junior outfielder Rees Campanale would have spelled trouble for NIU had he remembered to touch first base.
“We have spotters in our dugout to watch for stuff like that, and I’d like to take credit for it, but it wasn’t just me,” Copeland said. “Our first baseman who was in the game as a defensive sub (freshman infielder Jack Swaney), he was the one that was adamant about it.”
Central Michigan was able to rebound in the 11th inning with a 5-run inning. Junior catcher Aydin Wright was able to break the deadlock with an RBI double to right center, sealing the game for the Chippewas.
Sophomore pitcher Ty Brachbill started the game for the Huskies, going five innings of work with 6 strikeouts and 5 earned runs. He was relieved by junior pitcher John Lyman, who walked one batter and hit another while unable to make an out.
Lyman was relieved by redshirt senior pitcher Chad Saner, who went three innings of work with 1 earned run given up.
Sophomore pitcher Danny Cihocki came into the game in the 11th inning and was ambushed by the CMU offense. He gave up 5 earned runs in only an inning of work. Cihocki earned the loss in Game 1.
All six pitchers combined for 9 strikeouts, 11 earned runs, 19 hits and 6 walks.
The Huskies remained scoreless in the 11th inning, giving the Chippewas the 11-6 victory.
GAME 2
The Huskies once again fell behind in Game 2.
A clutch single from Central Michigan junior outfielder Zach Knowlton brought the game to 1-0 in the second inning. Campanale hit his third home run of the series in the third inning, scoring two. Chippewa sophomore outfielder Mikey Murphy hit another home run in the inning, bringing Central Michigan’s lead to six.
Sophomore catcher Cooper Cohn brought the shutout to an end in the fifth inning with a solo home run to left field. The Chippewas answered back in the sixth inning with another home run from Smith.
The Huskies attempted to claw their way back with a sacrifice flyout hit by Loyd, followed by a clutch bases-clearing double by senior outfielder JP Gauthier, cutting the lead to three.
NIU junior pitcher Max Vaisvila made the start in Game 2 and was welcomed by the CMU offense with 10 hits, 3 walks and 6 earned runs in only four innings of work. Vaisvila earned the loss in Game 2.
Freshman pitcher Carter Cox relieved Vaisvila in the fifth inning. Cox struck out two, and only let up a solo homer in two innings. Senior pitcher Conner Lutes came into the game in the seventh inning and only let up 1 hit. Sophomore pitcher Alex Day finished the game on the mound for the Huskies giving up one hit and striking three batters out.
All four pitchers combined for 8 earned runs, 6 strikeouts and 3 walks.
“I thought our bullpen threw pretty well in Game 2 today, and gave us a chance,” Copeland said. “We got some guys a chance to create some damage, and we just didn’t get it done.”
The Huskies fell to the Chippewas 8-4, extending their losing streak to eight.
UP NEXT
The Huskies will now take on Eastern Illinois University at 3 p.m. Tuesday in Charleston, Illinois. Live stats will be available through SIDEARM Sports.
