DeKALB — The baseball team lost a close game Tuesday to the University of Iowa Hawkeyes 2-0 in Iowa City, Iowa.

One turbulent inning cost the Huskies the game against the Hawkeyes squad. In the third inning, NIU sophomore starting pitcher Blake Walker gave up an RBI sacrifice fly. Walker gave up an RBI single later in the same inning.

The two-run third inning concluded the scoring for both teams. The Huskies got shutout on one hit as their bullpen shut the door on the flip side of the ball.

Iowa freshman pitcher Jack Dreyer worked a no-hitter up until the eighth inning. Dreyer has allowed one run in his last three starts.

The Huskies’ lone hit of the game came off the bat of senior outfielder Joe Jumonville as he broke the no-hitter in the eighth inning with a single to center field, but NIU could not bring him in.

“Unfortunately, we couldn’t get it done offensively today,” said Head Coach Mike Kunigonis. “We had our chances but couldn’t come through in the clutch.”

Junior pitcher William Anderson worked three scoreless innings after Walker’s departure. Redshirt senior Andrew Frankenreider and redshirt freshman Parker Kirkpatrick also worked scoreless innings.

“Our pitchers gave us an opportunity to scratch out a couple runs,” Kunigonis said. “We just couldn’t get the big hit when we needed it.”

The Huskies will begin a five-game homestand with a conference series against the Miami University RedHawks, followed by two non-conference foes in Indiana State and Robert Morris University Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.

The first game against the RedHawks will begin 3 p.m. Friday at Ralph McKinzie Field in Dekalb.

“We’re looking to go into the game Friday and get a win,” Kunigonis said. “[We] feel good about ourselves going into Saturday and Sunday. We’re looking to win a series and get back into [contention].”