DeKALB | How do you preserve a one-run lead in the late innings of a road game versus a team from the Big Ten?

Turn to one of your top relievers and the best closer in the MAC, of course. Sophomore Andy Deain and senior closer Matt German combined to hold Northwestern scoreless during the last four innings of the game to ensure the NIU baseball team a 5-4 victory Tuesday evening in Evanston.

“Our bullpen did a really nice job,” coach Ed Mathey said. “Andy [Deain] did great job and it’s Matt German time in the ninth and that’s such a great option to have.”

NIU (23-18) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first when, with Daniel Jewett and Jesse Seykora on base, senior Scott Simon blasted a three-run homer over the right-center field wall. The Wildcats closed the gap to 3-1 in the bottom of the second after an Aaron Newman groundout that scored Geoff Dietz.

Jewett helped the Huskies back to a three-run lead in the top of the fourth with an RBI fly-out that scored senior Brett Kellam, who had reached on a double to start the inning. However, NU (10-30) charged back in the fifth when Caleb Fields hit a two-run home run off of Huskie starter Brandon Copp to cut the Huskie lead to one. The Wildcats eventually tied the game at four later in the inning off an RBI single from Tommy Finn.

Not to be outdone, NIU regained the lead in its half of the sixth off an RBI single from Marc Besteman that scored Jordin Hood.

Deain came in and pitched a perfect sixth and seventh inning before running into a jam in the eighth. With two outs and runners at second and third, German took over for Deain and walked the first batter to load the bases but coaxed an inning ending fly out to end the threat.

“I was just trying to make my pitch,” German said. “I was hoping my defense would make a play behind me and they did.”

German eventually struck out the last batter in the ninth to earn his 22nd career save and help the Huskies to a 5-4 win.

“We got a win on the road, it’s against a Big Ten team and an in-state school,” Mathey said. “So there’s three good things for us there.”

NIU goes back on the road tomorrow for a seven inning doubleheader with UW-Milwaukee. Adam Holdenrid gets the start in game one and freshman Cody Beck takes the hill in the night cap.