The NIU baseball team ran wild on Tuesday night.

Seven stolen bases provided constant pressure on the base paths. That pressure combined with a solid effort from the bullpen to topple the co-leader of the Big Ten, Northwestern, 8-6 in front of 869 fans at Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva.

“This is, what we like to say, the NIU way to play,” NIU coach Ed Mathey said. “It seems like the last couple weeks we have been a little tired or a little tentative in running the bases and tonight the kids just got after it. I think that type of pressure offense is something that can help out the rest of our hitters.”

The NIU offense also pumped out 10 hits versus the co-Big Ten leaders.

“Our kids, they know where Northwestern is at. They read the papers,” Mathey said. “At this venue, this evening was a big night for us. Any win is a good win, but on a night like tonight it is a little more gratifying.”

Freshman Andy Deain (2-1) picked up the win in relief and Matt German picked up his 11th save of the year by retiring the final four NU hitters.

“Our bullpen has been solid all year the guys come in and just do their jobs,” Mathey said.

The relief corps of Dave Nykiel, Brandon Copp, Deain and German combined for five innings, four hits, one run, and seven strike outs.

“It gives our starters confidence that they can hand the ball in any inning to the bullpen,” German said. “We’ve been able to shut down games in the end, that’s where most of your games are won and lost.

A three-run eighth inning proved to be the difference maker for NIU. A two out bloop single to right field by senior right fielder Brian Toner scored junior second baseman Marc Besteman to give NIU a 6-5 lead.

Junior right fielder Jeff Thomas followed with a double that scored junior first baseman Scott Simon and Toner.

“I feel like we own Illinois right now,” Toner said in reference to the 11-2 NIU mark versus Illinois teams. “This was old fashioned baseball, guys attacked the ball really well, and the pitchers threw strikes.”

Freshman center fielder Pat Minogue and Toner picked up outfield assists, and senior catcher Anthony Venetucci threw out two would be NU base stealers.

“Our defense tonight was the difference maker,” Mathey said. “Our outfield defense was so solid tonight, they made some things happen that really helped our pitchers out.”