After losing three of its last four games, the NIU baseball team was more than willing to accept charity from its opponent.

The Huskies (14-17) scored seven runs on seven hits thanks to 10 walks and four errors by host Northern Iowa to pull out a 7-6 win in Waterloo, Iowa.

“We’re not playing as cleanly as we were about a week and a half ago,” NIU coach Ed Mathey said. “But for us to go on the road, take a four-hour bus trip and come from behind to win is a great thing.”

The Huskies struck first in the first inning as designated hitter Brian Toner doubled home first baseman Scott Simon to take a 1-0 lead. But the lead proved short-lived as Northern Iowa (16-17) answered with three runs of its own off NIU starter Matt Jernstad.

The scoring quieted until the fifth inning when Toner collected his second RBI on a single to score shortstop Bobby Stevens. NIU then added a three-spot in the sixth inning on an RBI single by second baseman Marc Besteman, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly by Stevens.

With NIU protecting a 5-3 lead in the top of the eighth inning, designated hitter Brian Smith singled to right field to score center fielder Pat Minogue. Third baseman Jesse Seykora followed with a sacrifice fly to stretch the lead to 7-3.

But the NIU relievers made things interesting in the bottom of the eighth as setup man Mark Badgley loaded the bases with no one out. Closer Matt German came into the ball game but couldn’t prevent the Panthers from scoring three runs on a single, error and sacrifice fly.

With the bases still loaded, German struck out designated hitter Nick Cameron to end the threat and preserve a 7-6 lead.

NIU has a chance to pad its lead in the ninth inning as it loaded the bases but could not bring any runners home. Down to their last three outs, the Panthers threatened with an opening walk and a stolen base to put the tying run on second. But a ground out to Stevens ended the game at 7-6.

“After sitting at home for Illinois State and watching the game on GameTracker, it was exhilarating just to suit up and get back on the field,” said Toner, who went three-for-three despite sitting out the previous game with a sore knee. “It was a tough pitcher we faced, but we stuck in there and battled and started pouring in the runs in the later innings.”