Center fielder Jeremy Busch led off Tuesday’s game with a home run over the left field fence and the Huskies never looked back in a 17-8 blowout of Division III Lakeland College (10-16).

The Huskies (22-13) scored in each of the first three innings and every Huskie starter had at least one hit on the afternoon.

Busch played just three innings but was able to go 3-for-3 with two RBIs, four runs scored and his fifth home run of the season.

“I was looking for a first-pitch fastball and I got it,” Busch said of his leadoff homer. “Coach wanted us to jump on these guys early so that’s what I tried to do.”

NIU was up 6-0 after two innings as it scored three runs in each frame. However, most of the Huskie damage came in the third when they scored 11 runs.

Each Huskie starter registered a hit in the inning including nine consecutive hits, which started with a grand slam to right field by left fielder Dan Urban.

Right fielder Mike Santoro followed with a single and advanced to second base on an error. He scored one batter later when freshman first baseman Scott Simon singled.

Designated hitter Mike Hochhauser then singled and both he and Simon were plated on catcher Anthony Venetucci’s single up the middle.

Hochhauser went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. He returned from his degloved right index finger this past weekend against Bowling Green and went 1-for-5 in two games. He still is unable to play the field because of the injury.

“I was a little nervous at the plate this past weekend, making sure I didn’t get my finger hit, but it was nice to get in there today,” Hochhauser said. “Today I started throwing, taking a few ground balls. I would hopefully say by this weekend I should be good to go back at first base.”

The scoring ended for the Huskies in the third when third baseman Rob Marconi found the right field gap to double home two more runs.

Marconi finished the day with three hits, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Marconi, Busch and shortstop Joe Mazzuca each had three hits. One of Mazzuca’s hits was a three-run home run to left-center in the second inning.

“We’ve been in some tight ballgames,” Mathey said. “This is a good game for us from the standpoint that we came out, we set the tone right away on the defensive side and the offensive side and that third inning really sealed the ballgame.”