NIU baseball (15-27, 4-16 MAC) dropped the series against the Western Michigan University Broncos (12-26, 8-12 MAC), falling by a score of 10-6 on Saturday. 

Broncos junior infielder Avery Thielman brought Western Michigan up in the first inning with an RBI single. 

NIU answered in the bottom of the first when junior infielder Will Couchman hit into an RBI fielder’s choice to bring home sophomore outfielder Charlie Parcell. The Huskies were able to take the lead with a sacrifice flyout by senior outfielder Gavin Baldwin, scoring senior outfielder JP Gauthier. Gauthier hit his ninth home run of the season in the third inning, a 2-run shot to put NIU up 4-1. 

Western Michigan responded in the fourth inning with a solo homer from junior middle infielder Grady Mee before a single from senior infielder Michael Maloney brought home 2 runs and tied the game. 

The Broncos took the lead in the sixth inning, when a series of singles scored 3 runs to bring the score to 7-4.

Leading the team with RBIs in the game, Gauthier’s seventh inning single put the Huskies within two. Western Michigan senior catcher Chris Akers grounded out into a fielder’s choice to reclaim the 3-run lead for the Broncos in the eighth. 

NIU freshman catcher Kyle Hartmann hit his first career home run, a solo home run in the eighth inning, to make it 8-6, ending the scoring for the Huskies. 

Sophomore pitcher Ty Brachbill made the start for the Huskies, giving up 1- hits and 7 runs in five innings of work. Brachbill struck out seven while walking three, earning the loss. 

Utilizing three pitchers out of the bullpen, NIU pitchers combined 13 strikeouts and 8 walks while allowing 10 hits on 15 runs. 

UP NEXT

The Huskies round out the series against Western Michigan at 1 p.m. Sunday at Ralph McKenzie Field at Walt and Janice Owens Park. The game will be streamed on NIU All-Access and live stats will be updated on SIDEARM Stats.