DeKALB | Matt German got exactly what he wanted.

The NIU baseball team opened its 2007 campaign against a Texas Tech team that had already played 10 games.

The senior closer was unequivocal in his win-loss expectations, stating that the opportunity to compete this weekend was of paramount importance.

NIU did exactly that as it came out victorious in one of three hard fought games in Lubbock, Texas, this weekend.

“I’m glad we are off and running,” NIU head coach Ed Mathey said. “That we competed coming out of the blocks was huge, but I’m not satisfied that we only picked up one win.”

A clutch two-run, ninth-inning double from third baseman Jesse Seykora gave NIU an 8-5 win Saturday.

“The pitcher snuck a fast ball by me with the first pitch,” said Seykora, who posted three hits and 4 RBI. “The next pitch he hung a curve ball that stayed on the inner half, I turned on it and sent it past the third baseman.”

German (1-0) threw scoreless eighth and ninth innings to seal the win for an NIU team that pounded out 15 hits.

Sophomore catcher Justin Behm also had a three-hit day, and led off the second inning with a home run to give the Huskies a 3-1 lead.

The Red Raiders (9-4) took the opener by a score of 6-5. Tech plated the winning run on an eighth-inning throwing error, but had to sweat out the win as NIU loaded the bases in the top of the ninth.

Senior first baseman Scott Simon and junior right fielder Danny Reed each batted in two runs in the opener.

In Sunday’s matinee finale, Mark Badgley (0-1) was solid in only his second career start. The senior right hander set a NIU school record with his 98th appearance, giving Mathey 6.1 innings, two runs allowed, and a career-high eight strikeouts in the 4-1 NIU loss.

“Badge was awesome this weekend,” Mathey said. “He took the ball and made some really good pitches.”

The season opening series was an important step for the Huskies, Mathey said.

“This is a start to a process,” he said. “I’m cautiously optimistic. Our focus and emotions were high. I want us to sustain that effort from here, and this weekend got us started in the right direction.”