NIU baseball won its first MAC series of the season as it swept Akron over the weekend in Ohio.

The Huskies took game one on Friday thanks to a solid pitching performance from freshman Jordan Ruckman and two late runs in the ninth inning.

Ruckman earned a no-decision in the contest but pitched a career-high 7.2 innings, giving up two earned runs while striking out four batters.

In the ninth inning, junior Alex Klonowski scored on a sacrifice fly from junior outfielder Landon Tenhagen to give the Huskies a 3-2 lead. The next batter, junior Chris Divarco, drove in junior Jeff Zimmerman from third base on a single to center field, increasing NIU’s lead to 4-2.

“We took advantage of some opportunities that they presented us with,” said coach Ed Mathey. “…It was really good to see us come through there in the ninth and take what the defense was giving us.”

At the plate, Klonowski went 4-4 with a walk and two runs scored, while Zimmerman went 3-4 with a triple and two RBIs.

In game two on Saturday, the Huskies won in a pitchers’ duel, 2-1. Junior Eli Anderson threw his second consecutive complete game to earn the victory, giving up just one earned run on six hits, while striking out six batters.

Offensively, the Huskies struck in the third inning when Nate Ruzich scored from second base on a single to center field from senior Jamison Wells, giving the Huskies a 1-0 lead.

During the next at-bat, Wells set the NIU record for career stolen bases with 72 as he stole second base. Wells broke the record previously set by Alvin Maynard back in 1980.

Later in the fifth inning, with the bases loaded, freshman Tommy Hook came through for the Huskies as he delivered with an RBI single, increasing the Huskies’ lead, 2-0.

Akron scored its lone run in the eighth inning, but Anderson held strong and closed the game out for the Huskies.

Game three on Sunday was nothing like the first two games, as the Huskies blew out the Zips, 14-4.

NIU recorded 18 hits and Klonowksi once again went 4-4 and recorded two RBIs. Klonowksi also started the game on the mound for the Huskies and picked up his third win of the season. He pitched five innings and game up two earned runs while striking out eight batters.

Klonowski did it all for the Huskies over the weekend, as at the plate he went 9-12 with two RBIs, two run’s scored and a walk.

“He had a great weekend,” Mathey said. “I think he went 9-12 overall. I mean, that’s pretty remarkable in this league. He was centering the baseball up, he was using the middle of the field, and when he’s getting on base like that it allows the guys behind him to do some damage and score some runs.”