When a team averages only five hits per game, odds are it isn’t going to win many games.

That’s what happened to the NIU baseball team, as the Huskies put up only 15 hits in three games with Bowling Green this weekend. After sweeping a three-game set against Buffalo last weekend, NIU was on the flip side, being swept by Bowling Green this weekend. NIU fell to 3-3 in MAC play.

“I thought our guys threw the ball well enough to win a couple of ballgames this weekend,” NIU head coach Ed Mathey said. “Our hitting never seemed to get going. They had a pretty good attack plan.”

Game 1

Bowling Green (11-7, 3-0) got the series started with a 3-2 win Friday afternoon.

NIU starter Trevor Feeney gave up 12 hits and allowed the leadoff hitter to reach base in each of the first six innings. However, the junior only allowed two earned runs in the loss,

“That, to me, is the sign of a good pitcher – when you go out and don’t have your best stuff,” Mathey said. “He limited the damage. It’s not always going to go your way, but you need to make those big pitches.”

Falcon starter Frank Berry only allowed five Huskie hits in a complete-game victory.

Game 2

Huskie starter Adam Holdenrid only allowed two earned runs in his six innings of work, but it wasn’t enough as the Huskies only managed six hits in a 4-3 loss.

NIU (9-14, 3-3) was able to take a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth on a Dave Reynolds RBI single and a Bowling Green error that allowed Reynolds and Danny Reed to score. However, the lead evaporated in the bottom of the seventh on Falcon shortstop Ryan Shay’s RBI single.

“The thing that Bowling Green did was they had one of their best hitters coming up in all the run-producing situations,” said Mathey, referring to Shay.

Game 3

NIU got a decent pitching performance from senior Matt Jernstad. But once again, it wasn’t enough as Bowling Green pitching only allowed four Huskie hits.

Jernstad allowed three earned runs in 5 2/3 innings, as his record fell to 0-3 on the season. Relievers Andy Deain and Dan Atkenson finished off a good weekend for the Huskie bullpen, holding the Falcons scoreless for the final 2 1/3 innings.

Relief pitching was one of the few bright spots for the Huskies, as NIU’s bullpen held Bowling Green scoreless the entire series.