Designated hitter Scott Simon broke up a no-hitter in Game 1 and helped the Huskies get out of their slump in Game 2, hitting a grand slam and collecting five RBIs in a 14-10 win over Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

NIU (13-15 overall) had lost eight-straight games before putting up eight runs in the second inning to take an 8-4 lead and never look back.

The Huskies lost the first game 2-1.

Simon was 3-for-8 in the doubleheader split, including his second home run of the season over the left field wall.

“We definitely needed to break out, scoring one run in the first game,” Simon said. “They were pitching me away in my first at-bat, so I figured if they threw me a fastball away, I’d try to drive it the other way. At first I didn’t think I got it, but it went out.”

First baseman Mike Hochhauser followed Simon with a home run of his own off the scoreboard in left-center field. Hochhauser hit what looked to be a home run in the first game down the left-field line, but it was called foul to the dismay of NIU coach Ed Mathey, who argued the call to no avail.

Rob Marconi, NIU’s career home run record holder, added to his total with a two-run homer to left-center field, his fifth of the year and 27th of his career.

NIU junior right-hander Josh Goodwin got the win in relief in Game 2, allowing two runs in 2 2/3 innings. Freshman Matt German started the game, going just 1 2/3 innings and allowing three earned runs for the Huskies.

In Game 1, Matt Steiger took the loss to allow one earned run in 3 1/3 innings but was bettered by Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Ben Stanczyk. Stanczyk was one out away from a no-hitter before eventually winning 2-1.

“Matt [Steiger] went out and gave us a chance to win,” Mathey said. “That’s what Matt needed to do.”