DeKALB — The baseball team claimed a series win over the conference leading Miami of Ohio RedHawks this weekend in Oxford, Ohio.

After being blown out 12-0 Friday, the Huskies won back-to-back games to win their first series away from DeKalb this season.

Head Coach Mike Kunigonis said it was a complete team effort by the Huskies.

“This was a huge series win on the road,” Kunigonis said. “We have been waiting to see this performance out of our team for a while now. We excelled on the mound, defensively and at the plate.”

 

Friday-RedHawks 12, Huskies 0

RedHawks first-year pitcher Sam Bachman torched the Huskies for his sixth win of the season, pitching six shutout innings and allowing only four hits over 20 at-bats.

Junior infielder Landon Stephens scored Miami’s the first run on an RBI double, with fellow junior infielder Jordan Stephens, no relation, scoring another run with an RBI single of his own.

In the third, the RedHawks scored five runs, all given up by first-year pitcher Erik Hedmark, who would be handed the loss.

Sophomore designated hitter Cristian Tejada and senior outfielder Mackay Williams both scored in the third and ended the day with two RBIs.

Junior infielder Will Vogelgesang also knocked in two RBIs, scoring one in the third and the other on a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning.

The Huskies not only put 10 men on base to Miami’s 20, but they also committed three errors in the 12-0 loss.

 

Saturday-Huskies 6, RedHawks 3

After failing to pick up a run in the series opener, the Huskies scored three runs in the top of the first.

Junior catcher Jake Dunham doubled to left field to score two RBIs, followed by an RBI single by junior outfielder Kam Smith to put the Huskies up 3-0 after one inning.

Junior infielder Dylan Lonteen helped NIU build its lead with an RBI fielder’s choice in the second, making it 4-0 after two innings.

Sophomore pitcher Michael Lasiewicz pitched five shutout innings to start, giving up his first runs of the game in the sixth on a 2-RBI triple by Landon Stephens. Lasiewicz was pulled after six with NIU still leading 4-3.

Fellow sophomore pitcher Kyle Seebach recorded a save in three innings of relief, allowing three hits and no runs.

The Huskies capped the game with a run on a fielder error and an RBI Lonteen single for the eventual 6-3 final.

 

Sunday-Huskies 13, RedHawks 3

In the rubber match of the series, NIU got on the board first when junior outfielder Josh Mutter singled to left center for an RBI in the second inning.

The Huskies added another run during the following inning with a Smith triple scoring first-year designated hitter Nick Drobushevich from first, giving NIU a 2-0 lead after three.

Neither team registered a run again until the seventh inning, when NIU put up three. Mutter scored on a fielding error while Dunham brought home two runs with a single.

The Huskies rode their momentum into an even better eighth inning with two unearned runs, that included two RBIs on walks from Dunham and Larson, and a two-RBI double by Drobushevich to make it 11-0 going into the final frame.

The RedHawks recorded their only runs in the ninth before Drobushevich added an exclamation point with another two-RBI single for the 13-3 final.

Junior pitcher Nate Thomas was credited with the win, pitching three innings in relief. Fellow junior pitcher Ryan Anderson pitched four scoreless innings in his start ending in a no decision.

The series win puts NIU at 10-8 in Mid-American Conference play, sitting in fifth-place behind Kent State. Meanwhile, Miami fell from the top spot in the standings to third with the two losses.

NIU returns home for a three-game series against the new leader in the MAC standings, the Ball State Cardinals. First pitch for the series opener is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday from Ralph McKinzie Field in DeKalb.