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DeKALB — A hitting explosion gave the baseball team (11-20, 3-6 Mid-American Conference) a pair of wins Tuesday and Wednesday at Ralph McKinzie Field.
The Huskies beat the University of Illinois-Chicago Flames 10-5 Tuesday with a season-high 15 hits, followed by a win over the Trinity Christian College Trolls 6-1 Wednesday where they matched that season high with another 15 hits.
Head Coach Mike Kunigonis said the hitting performance of his team over the week is something it has been capable of all year, and it is reaching peak performance.
“It’s nice to see the bats coming together,” Kunigonis said. “This is the offensive team we’ve known we had since last September, and we’re really starting to hit our stride.”
Tuesday — Huskies 10, Flames 5
The Huskies scored their first three runs in the bottom of the second inning, including a steal at home by freshman designated hitter Connor Montgomery, but UIC tied it up in the top of the third.
Then came an offensive explosion for the Huskies as they scored four runs in the bottom half of the third, including a two-run single by redshirt sophomore outfielder Josh Mutter and an RBI single off the bat of senior infielder Samuel Vega. At the end of the third, the Huskies led 7-3.
Mutter stuck another blow to the Flames in the bottom of the seventh inning, gathering another two-run single for the Huskies in a three-run inning to put them up 10-3. Mutter’s four RBIs led the team Tuesday, while Vega led in hits going 3-for-5.
Sophomore pitcher Blake Walker got the start for the Huskies, going three innings and giving up two earned runs while also committing two errors on attempted pickoffs.
Redshirt freshman Parker Kirkpatrick was the NIU pitcher credited with the win, pitching a shutout four innings of relief with two strikeouts. With the win, the Huskies claim the season series with the Flames 2-1.
“Parker has been doing a good job,” Kunigonis said. “He’s a guy we rely on to throw strikes when we need to.”
Wednesday — Huskies 6, Trolls 1
The scoring got started in the bottom of the first inning with a single from sophomore catcher Jake Dunham, bringing home the first run.
Mutter hit in the second run for NIU on a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the second inning, afterby a two RBI single by redshirt freshman outfielder Kam Smith to put the Huskies up 4-0 in the third.
The Huskies piled on to the scoring when sophomore infielder Tommy Szczasny and Dunham each brought in a run in the fourth inning. Dunham finished with a game-high three hits to go with his two RBIs.
Trinity Christian had to contend with junior starting pitcher William Anderson, who pitched six innings and gave up one run in his second start of the season.
“[Anderson] has been working really hard to get back to where he has been in the past,” Kunigonis said. “He’s had a couple tough outings and he bounced back today. He needed this and we needed this.”
The Huskie’s bullpen also kept the Trolls busy to close the game out. Senior George Faue, sophomore Nate Thomas and redshirt senior Andrew Frankenreider each pitched a hitless inning of relief for the Huskies to seal the victory.
The Huskies will travel to resume MAC play in a three-game series against the Kent State Golden Flashes starting 5 p.m Friday in Kent, Ohio.
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