In a game that saw a combined 21 men left on base, NIU baseball was able to outlast the UIC Flames Tuesday afternoon.

While the Huskies had a crooked number frame in the second – posting six runs – UIC was unable to push across enough men to overtake NIU after the second.

“We really had a chance the last three innings to at least tie that game,” said UIC coach Mike Dee. “It’s just the statistics of baseball. A .300 hitter doesn’t suddenly become a .700 hitter with runners in scoring positions.”

NIU left nine men on base, while UIC left 12.

UIC was able to creep back into the game after the second inning, scoring one in the third, a pair in the fifth and sixth and one final run in the ninth.

“They did a good job of just tacking on,” said NIU junior infielder Jamison Wells. “They just kind of snuck up behind us, and the next thing, you know, it’s 8-5.”

NIU’s sophomore Alex Klonowski pitched himself into a corner in the 8th inning, walking two and allowing a single, having the bases loaded with one out. Klonowski was able to overcome a dropped pop-up in foul territory to strike out the next two batters and strand the bases loaded.

“Our bullpen’s been doing a pretty good job all year,” Wells said. “They have to build confidence coming out of the bullpen that the defense has their back. It just takes some time to build that up.”

Senior closer Kyle Glancy offered a similar performance, hitting one and walking one, before getting the first out on a pop up. Following a pass ball he would walk another, loading the bases. Glancy was able to strike out a batter to get the second out, but walked in one to make the score 8-6. He would finally notch the save on a grounder to third, stranding the bases loaded again.

“We’re not going to give the win back, there’s no doubt about that,” said NIU coach Ed Mathey. “You have to be able to make your best pitches out of the stretch, and when it came down to it, they did. I would have liked it to be easier for me from the dug-out, but they got the job done.”