Starting pitching continues to decide games for the NIU baseball team.

The Huskies’ starters pitched well in their three wins and struggled in their one loss of a four-game series with Toledo at NIU this weekend.

The Huskies (13-9, 3-1 MAC) have won nine of their last 11 games.

The Rockets (6-12, 1-3 MAC) found themselves shut out, 6-0, in Game 1 facing NIU ace Mark Skrukrud. Skrukrud pitched a complete game, surrendering five hits.

“Skrukrud did a good job keeping us off balance,” Toledo coach Joe Kruzel said. “We had him on the ropes a couple of times and had we gotten a base hit it could have been a different game. But give him credit, he made pitches when he had to.”

Game 2 produced a new starter to face Toledo, but with similar results. Zach Minor pitched six and one-third innings, allowing zero earned runs and four hits.

The game still came into doubt as NIU, leading 5-0 at the top of the eighth inning, surrendered five runs in the inning.

“It was a little nerve-racking there,” NIU coach Ed Mathey said. “We had some opportunities to make plays to get out of the inning and our pitchers weren’t as aggressive as you’d like to see with a five-run lead in the eighth. You have to take the action to the team, especially when you have the lead.”

NIU recovered well, tallying six runs at the bottom of the inning to pull away, winning 11-5.

Game 3 offered Joe Piekarz, who pitched another complete game for the Huskies. Piekarz allowed one run, which was un-earned, and two hits.

“It’s always nice and feels more complete if you can go the distance,” Piekarz said. “I was able to do that today and it feels pretty nice.”

Jeremy Busch took care of the run production hitting a three-run home run in the fifth inning, Busch’s second of the season.

With the series win clinched, NIU fell off in its final game 12-7.

The Huskies committed four errors in the game and stranded 10 runners. This gave little help to NIU starter Jim Caine, who gave up nine runs over five innings off eight hits.

Toledo’s second basemen Taylor Eckel, hit 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs.

“I think this is the worst way to end a good weekend,” Mathey said. “But when you look back at the weekend as a whole, taking three out of four in your conference opener is a good thing.”