OXFORD, Ohio – The RedHawks clinched their second conference series victory Friday with a pair of wins over Northern Illinois, 8-2 and 6-5. In game one,
Evan Appelwick went 4-for-4 and hit two home runs and
Cooper Katskee pitched six hitless innings to record the win. In game two,
Dillon Baker hit a walkoff home run to supplement
Ryan Novak's game-tying three-run homer in the eighth. Miami moves to 9-9 (4-1 MAC) with the wins while NIU drops to 7-9 (1-4 MAC).
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 1):
- NIU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first after an RBI single.
- The Huskies struck again in the top of the second, scoring one run on two singles.
- Miami put together a four-run rally in the bottom of the second to take a 4-2 lead. Appelwick singled to left center and stole second. Drew Phillips hit a bunt single, his first hit as a RedHawk, and Blake Buzzeo singled to score one run. Baker hit a two-RBI single. Zarlingo capped off the scoring streak with another RBI single.
- Appelwick tacked on one run in the bottom of the third with his seventh home run of the season.
- Zarlingo crushed his first round-tripper of the season in the bottom of the fifth, a solo homer that made it 6-2.
- Appelwick hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh after Ty Batusich doubled to left, putting the RedHawks up 8-2.
MIAMI GAME NOTES (GAME ONE):
- Baker went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run.
- Zarlingo went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a run.
- Batusich went 2-for-4 with one run.
- Appelwick went 4-for-4 with two home runs, three RBIs, and three total runs.
- Katskee pitched 6.0 innings in relief for the RedHawks. He gave up no hits, no runs and just one walk.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 2):
- The Huskies scored first again, taking a 3-0 lead in the top of the second on an RBI single and a two-run homer.
- Miami answered with one run in the bottom of the second. Dominic Krupinski hit his third home run ball of the season to make it 3-1.
- Troy Benko recorded three outs with just five pitches in the bottom of the fourth.
- NIU scored one run in the top of the seventh on a fielder's choice.
- The Huskies scored one run in the top of the eighth on a double, but Miami threw a runner out at home plate to stop any further damage.
- Miami tied the ballgame at 5-5 in the bottom of the eighth. Batusich and Appelwick both singled and David Novak scored one run on an RBI double. Ryan Novak hit his first home run of the year, a three-run homer.
- Landon Fulk sent down three straight batters in the top of the ninth to maintain the tie.
- Baker homered on a 1-0 count for a 6-5 walk-off RedHawk win.
MIAMI GAME NOTES (GAME TWO):
- Baker went 2-for-5 with a walk-off home run.
- Batusich went 2-for-3 with one run.
- Fulk pitched the ninth inning for Miami, giving up no hits and no walks and striking out one batter.
UP NEXT: Miami will attempt to sweep NIU this Sunday in game three of their series. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.