After struggling last weekend against conference rival Ball State, the NIU baseball team rallied together Wednesday and swept a doubleheader against Bradley.

NIU had been hovering above .500 the whole season until the Ball State games. With the two wins over the Braves, 11-9 and 7-5, they’re back to the .500 mark.

The Huskies started off on the right track in the first inning by scoring two runs. Pat Kerrigan doubled to start off the scoring, then scored on Noel Danielson’s single. Danielson later notched one on a Dan Urban base hit.

NIU added to its lead in the second inning by plating home five more runs, then added to that lead in the third by tallying home three more. Later in the second, Dave Garcia homered and Urban drove in two more with a double. In the third inning, Jason Ciarrachi put the score at 10-0 as he delivered a two-run single.

In Game 1, four players had multiple-hit games for NIU, highlighted by Bilal Omar’s three hits.

“As a team, it was one of our better hitting days for all 14 innings,” coach Dave Schrage said. “We made a few adjustments and switched some guys around. It was a good chance for us to throw a lot of our young guys.”

NIU freshman Zach Minor earned his first collegiate win in Game 1, pitching four innings, giving up two runs and adding five strikeouts.

In Game 2, the Huskies continued to hit the ball well, scoring seven runs and notching nine hits. Urban had two more RBI with a two-run double, and Danielson also contributed with a solo home run in the third.

Stephen Ayers picked up the win in Game 2 as he pitched four innings, allowing five runs. Steve Hardman finished the game to pick up his first save by pitching the final two innings and allowing no runs.

“It was two good team wins for us,” Schrage said. “A lot of guys contributed today. It was a great way for our team to bounce back and hopefully it gives us some momentum going into the weekend.”