After winning its first two games, the NIU baseball team’s Spring Break road trip took a slide.

The Huskies topped Wright State and Austin Peay before losing their next seven games.

Evansville Aces Diamond Classic

NIU scored three runs in the 11th inning to top Wright State 8-5 on March 12 in Evansville, Ind. to begin the break for the Huskies.

Huskie pitcher Brian Smith’s seven-inning performance helped to lift NIU over Austin Peay 5-2 later that day.

“Brian Smith is really throwing the baseball well right now,” NIU coach Ed Mathey said. “Austin Peay is a good offensive team, but Brian just pitched the game. He works quickly and gets ahead of the batters.”

The Huskies fell to Evansville in the third game of the tournament 7-2 after the Aces scored seven runs in the first two innings.

Louisville 8, NIU 7

Two NIU errors boosted a four-run Louisville comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Freshman Adam Holdenrid gave up three hits in five innings of work, with two of the four runs he gave up coming off of errors.

Xavier 7, NIU 2

Trailing 3-2 in the eighth inning, Xavier’s Josh Goodwin capitalized on an NIU error by hitting a grand slam over the left-field fence, sealing Xavier’s victory.

Notre Dame 10, NIU 6

Nick Hall gave up seven hits in seven innings, helping NIU carry a 6-3 lead into the eighth inning.

Notre Dame then cruised past the Huskies with the help of a seven-run eighth inning en route to their win.

Eastern Kentucky series

The Huskies were swept in the three-game series completed on Sunday despite freshman Adam Holdenrid helping NIU to a 6-5 though 7.1 innings pitched.

After losing 27-6 and 19-11, a two-out two-RBI single by Aaron Landis in the bottom of the 10th inning gave the Huskies a 7-6 extra inning loss.