With the bases loaded and nobody out, NIU pitcher Zach Oates faced Kent State’s Travis Shaw.

After scoring two runs in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game at 9-9, the Golden Flashes started the ninth with Ben Klafczynski reaching on an error by second baseman Joe Buonavolonto. Oates then replaced Tom Zelasko, and immediately gave up a single to Jared Humphreys , sending Klafczynski to third. NIU head coach Ed Mathey decided to walk Jason Patton to set up a force out at every base, sending Shaw to the plate.

Shaw worked the count to 2-0, forcing Oates to challenge him, and hit the next pitch over the left field wall giving Kent State a 13-9 victory and a sweep of the weekend series.

“You fall behind 2-0 you just have to set it in there,” Mathey said.

It was a rough weekend for the Huskies (11-17 overall, 4-4 MAC) pitching staff. NIU gave up 13 runs.