Baseball (9-21, 5-4 MAC) went 2-1 in a three-game series against Central Michigan University (7-26, 2-4 MAC) over the weekend, winning the final game with a walk-off hit in extra innings.

Game 1

The Huskies won the first matchup of the series Friday by a final score of 9-6. The first score of the game came from junior left fielder Brandon Mallder, who stole home with one out in the bottom of the second inning to get NIU on the board. The Huskies were down 2-1 heading into the fifth inning but struck back with three runs to take a 4-2 lead, which they held for the remainder of the contest. The Chippewas scored five runs in the final inning, but NIU’s explosive offensive attack was too much as it held on for the victory.

Game 2

The teams finished the series with a doubleheader Saturday. Central Michigan junior first baseman Alex Borglin hit a double to left center field followed by a home run from sophomore left fielder Daniel Jipping, giving the Chippewas an early 2-0 lead. The Huskies shot back with a two-run first inning of their own, tying the game and avoiding falling behind early.

Central Michigan took the lead again in the top of the third with two more runs, both of them unearned. NIU led 6-4 at the end of three.

Both teams went scoreless for the following four innings, but the Chippewas pushed forward after a three-run eighth inning, giving them the 7-6 victory.

“It was disappointing to lose game one [of the doubleheader],” said head coach Mike Kunigonis. “We had that game, but we didn’t play well enough to win the game.”

Game 3

The third and final game of the doubleheader was a close bout, remaining a low-scoring game and going into extra innings. Both teams totaled 12 hits but couldn’t capitalize on them.

The Huskies finally broke free in the bottom of the 10th inning, picking up two hits but finally taking a 3-2 lead after a wild pitch led to a run for senior outfielder Alex Smith.

“I felt really good heading into extra innings,” Kunigonis said. “I knew our [bullpen] was going to be better than theirs at the time. We both [were] getting down to the nitty gritty and thought we had little bit more in the tank then they did.”

The win gave NIU its second MAC series win, bringing the team to 5-4 in conference play for the year. It was also the team’s third extra-inning affair this season.

“The last play I was on the edge of my seat,” said junior outfielder Tommy Hook. “I was up all game long kind of losing my mind a little bit, and to see Alex [Smith] cross the plate was unbelievable and probably one of the best feelings of the year so far.”

Up next

The Huskies will hit the field again this week for a game against the University of Illinois at Chicago. First pitch is slated for 6:05 p.m. Tuesday in Chicago.