DeKALB | NIU baseball head coach Ed Mathey is all about winning the series.

And Mathey’s team did just that, taking two of three from Kent State (12-19, 4-5) over the weekend for its third consecutive MAC series win. After winning the first two games, 2-0 and 11-8, NIU (17-10, 7-2) was denied the sweep after a 7-2 loss in the finale.

“We would have liked to get the sweep,” Mathey said. “But two of three is still a pretty good weekend.”

For the third time in as many starts, junior Trevor Feeney was the story in game one. The right-hander threw eight and a third shutout innings, coming just shy of his third consecutive complete game. Despite a 29 degree game-time start, the Channahon, Ill., native gave up no runs and struck out a career-high 12 batters to lead the Huskies to yet another series opening win.

“Trevor was simply outstanding for us today,” Mathey said. “He had command of all four of his pitches and his performance was really something to watch. I could not ask for anything more from a starting pitcher and am very proud of his effort.”

With the tying run at the plate, closer Matt German came on and fanned the final two batters in the ninth, helping the Huskies to a 2-0 victory and their first shutout of the year.

Senior Scott Simon had two hits and scored twice to pace the Huskies’ offensively.

Game 2 started Saturday, but didn’t finish until a day later. The Huskies led 4-1 before the game was postponed after the first inning due to snow. When the game resumed early Sunday afternoon, the Huskies picked up where they left off, en route to an 11-8 win.

KSU put up five runs in the second and two more in the third to take an 8-6 lead after three innings. However, NIU countered by scoring five unanswered runs – two in the sixth, one in the seventh and two in the eighth – to secure the victory.

Senior Mark Badgley took over for starter Brandon Copp in the second and allowed only three hits and two earned runs in six and a third innings of work. Jesse Seykora had a career-high four hits in the win, with two runs scored and two RBIs.

“It was one of those days where if you don’t hit it on the barrel of the bat, you’re going to feel it,” Seykora said. “So, that’s what I wanted to do out there.”

With the game tied 2-2 after three innings in game 3, the Golden Flashes scored three runs in the fourth and two more in the sixth to give KSU a 7-2 win. Matt Jernstad took the loss for the Huskies after giving up four earned runs in four and a third inning of work.

“I‘m proud of our guys,” Mathey said. “The temperature never reached above 30 degrees. It was tough out there.”