Limited pitching availability plagued NIU baseball (9-16, 1-8 MAC) as it was swept in a Saturday doubleheader against Butler University (9-17).
The Huskies dropped the first game of the double header by a score of 9-6 in seven innings. The second game was won in extra innings, taking Butler nine innings to defeat NIU 9-8.
“Tough day,” said NIU baseball head coach Ryan Copeland. “Two close games and you can add these two games to the list of games where we just can’t seem to do enough late to find a way to win.”
The theme of the week for the Huskies has been a lack of bullpen availability, plaguing them again Saturday.
In its three games this weekend against Butler, NIU utilized a total of eight pitchers. In the two midweek games against the University of Illinois-Chicago and Eastern Illinois University, the Huskies used 13 different pitchers, including senior outfielder JP Gauthier.
Sophomore pitcher Ty Brachbill and junior pitcher Max Vaisvila were the starters for Saturday’s twin bill.
Brachbill started Game 1, totaling five innings of work, giving up 7 runs and striking out five Bulldogs.
Vaisvila earned the start in the second game, pitching into the seventh inning before being pulled from the game. The lefty’s final statline included 6 innings pitched, 7 runs given up and 6 strikeouts.
“I wouldn’t say our starters have thrown the ball well,” Copeland said. “The numbers will tell you that, but they have pitched deeper into the game, which it felt like we were set up pretty well. Late in game two of the double header we have to find a way to put up a couple zeroes.”
NIU was one out away from a win in Game 2 with redshirt junior pitcher Mason Ruh in the game when Bulldogs sophomore outfielder David Ayers hit a homerun to tie the game for Butler.
Butler was able to knock off the Huskies with a walkoff double in the ninth inning by junior pitcher Jack Bello.
While the Huskies dropped both games of Saturday’s double header, the offense put up 14 runs and slugged 3 home runs.
Senior infielder/outfielder Andrew Smart and Gauthier both continued to hit the ball well on Saturday, both totaling two extra base hits.
Gauthier now has a seven game hitting streak, raising his batting average from .222 to .300.
The Illinois State University transfer has also slugged 3 of his 4 home runs this season during his hitting streak, including a long ball in game one of the double header.
Smart went 3/7 on the day with all of his hits coming in the second game. Smart was a home run away from the cycle in game two while scoring 2 runs.
“Both of those guys just put their heads down and work,” Copeland said. “They’re both very confident kids, and both have been patient and are trying to get their opportunities and they’re good teammates and good people to be around. They’ve earned their playing time and they’ve done more than enough to make it easy to pencil their names in the lineup.”
The Huskies trio of transfer hitters, junior catcher Logan Gregorio, senior outfielder Gavin Baldwin and junior infielder Will Couchman have all played significant roles in the middle part of the lineup for NIU so far this season.
Gregorio and Baldwin have both been premiere hitters for the Huskies all season, with both sluggers sitting in the top 10 in the MAC for home runs and top 15 for RBIs.
Baldwin slugged his ninth home run of the season in the second game of the double header, finishing the day 3/7 at the plate with 3 RBIs over both games.
Couchman’s career at NIU got off to a slower start, but he has become one of NIU’s most consistent hitters. The lefty slugger is riding a 12-game hitting streak where he has raised his batting average from .172 to .306.
Couchman has also slugged all three of his home runs during the hitting streak, including a clutch 2-run homerun in Game 2 against the Bulldogs.
“I think when we came into the year, we weren’t sure what we looked like offensively,” Copeland said. “I definitely didn’t think we would slug the way we are with the home run numbers and the doubles and that’s been a welcome surprise.”
The Huskies will conclude their series against Butler 11 a.m. Sunday in Indianapolis, Indiana. Live stats for the game are available at StatBroadcast.
