DeKALB | A 60-degree game-time start turned to 40 degrees midway through the NIU baseball game with Illinois State Tuesday.

Nevertheless, the Huskies (15-9) overcame the cold weather and gusty winds to beat ISU 8-6 at Ralph McKinzie Field.

“MAC games are everything to us on our priority list,” coach Ed Mathey said. “But in-state schools are a close second and we like to go out there and play almost like it’s a MAC game.”

It didn’t look good for the Huskies at the start of the game as the Redbirds (12-14) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after the first inning.

But the deficit didn’t last long as the Huskies scored two in the second and three in the third to jump to a 5-2 lead off ISU starter Dan Sorce.

Getting a lead helped Huskie starter Mark Badgley settle down, as he retired nine in a row at one point and struck out a career-high nine batters in six innings.

“He was out there and pitched an inning and a third on Sunday,” Mathey said. “He’s the type of guy that thrives on the work.”

With the Huskies up 6-4 in the bottom of the 7th, Danny Reed and Jordon Hood belted back-to-back home runs with two outs to give NIU two much-needed insurance runs and an 8-4 lead.

“Following Reed’s home run, I was just looking for a first-pitch fastball,” said Hood, who went three for four on the day. “He left it up a little and I turned on it.”

Those runs proved to be much-needed as ISU’s Kyle O’Brien hit a two-run, two-out home run to cut the Huskie lead to 8-6. NIU closer Matt German came on in the 9th and struck out former Huskie Kyle Cherney with the bases loaded to end the game.

“I’m really proud of our effort,” Mathey said. “But I think we left a few things out and we have some things to work on.”

Tomorrow’s game versus Northern Iowa has been canceled due to the projected cold and windy weather. No make up date has been scheduled yet.