Ed Mathey’s team decided it needed to grab the first game of the weekend’s three-game set against Akron by the throat.

The NIU baseball team had a four-game losing streak and an anticlimactic tie Tuesday against Purdue-North Central hanging over its head, and came out on the offensive Friday.

Led by Jake Blair’s two home runs and six RBIs, the Huskies pounded Zips pitching for 16 hits in a 12-6 victory, NIU’s second MAC win of the season.

For the next two games, the Zips returned the favor, winning on Saturday and Sunday to take the series.

Akron 8, NIU 3

The Zips rekindled the offense that couldn’t keep pace with the Huskies on Friday and connected for 17 hits.

The rest was left in the hands of Akron right-hander Tom Farmer, who held the Huskies to one earned run in seven innings.

Freshman Adam Holdenrid took the mound for the Huskies, giving up four earned runs and 11 hits in his five innings of work.

“Adam battled out there and tried to keep us in the ballgame,” Mathey said. “We had some legitimate scoring opportunities early in the game, but couldn’t get the key hits to get on the board.”

Jeremy Busch led the Huskies at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Akron 2, NIU 1

NIU’s Brian Smith gave up one unearned run in his nine innings of pitching Sunday.

Akron’s first run resulted from an error in the third inning, locking the game at 1-1 until the bottom of the 11th. Another error allowed the Zips to keep a rally going in the bottom of the inning and end the game on a bases-loaded single by leadoff hitter Andy Capraruolo.