MUNCIE, Ind. - Northern Illinois reliever Zach Badgley worked 4.2 innings for Huskies, limiting Ball State to one run, two hits and two strikeouts. NIU (21-32, 15-11 MAC) would fall to BSU (28-22, 15-11 MAC) in game two of the series, 14-3. Tomorrow’s game will now decide the Mid-American Conference West division champion.

DeKALB – Northern Illinois senior Jamison Wells told his young baseball teammates not to concern themselves with the coaches’ poll that ranked them last in the MAC West.

DeKALB – Northern Illinois baseball coach Ed Mathey will watch game tape after the Huskies' 12-7 loss to Eastern Michigan, which came on the heels of a 17-12 loss the day before. He'll dissect his pitchers' mechanics in hopes of finding a few easy fixes.

DeKALB, Ill. – It was a hitters day at Ralph McKinzie Field with winds blowing out from home plate to cause havoc to players on the field. Though Northern Illlinois (21-27, 15-8 MAC) took advantage of those opportunities, Eastern Michigan (23-26, 10-13 MAC) capitalized more to defeat the Huskies, 17-12. Joe Battaglia was 2-for-2 with two RBI and run, including a pinch-hit homerun.

TOLEDO, Ohio – For the first time since March 22-24 versus Kent State, the Northern Illinois baseball team (20-26, 14-7 MAC) dropped a series, falling in game three at Toledo (19-27, 10-11 MAC), 9-2.

TOLEDO, Ohio – Northern Illinois (20-25, 14-6 MAC) took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning at Toledo (18-26, 9-11 MAC) Saturday but the Rockets countered back with two runs in the bottom of the frame to regain the lead and hold it to defeat the Huskies, 6-3. Sophomore Micah McCulloch led NIU at the plate, finishing 3-for-5 with a run and two doubles. Northern Illinois outhit the Rockets, 11-10.

TOLEDO, Ohio - Junior pitchers Eli Anderson and Kevin Sweeney combined for Northern Illinois second shutout of the season in Toledo as the Huskies (20-24, 14-5 MAC) defeated the Rockets (17-26, 8-11 MAC), 4-0. Freshman Tommy Hook finished 2-for-5 with three RBI and a triple.

DeKALB – Ed Mathey knew his Northern Illinois baseball team had a lot to prove this season.

CHICAGO, Ill. – A five-hit five run rally in the top of the eighth inning for Northern Illinois (19-24) overcame a 5-2 UIC (20-21) lead as the Huskies went on to extinguish the Flames, 7-5. Seven different NIU players drove in the runs with Joe Battaglia leading the way again for the Huskies on a 2-for-3, one home run, two run night at Les Miller Field. Jeff Zimmerman extended his hitting streak to nine games on a 2-for-5 night with a double, an RBI and a run.

DeKALB, Ill. – Down 5-0 in the bottom of the seventh to Miami (Ohio) (20-22, 10-8 MAC), the Northern Illinois baseball team (18-23, 13-5 MAC) rallied back to within one run but was unable to get over the hump as the Huskies fell to Redhawks, 6-4. Pitcher/designated hitter Alex Klonowski (Kearney, Mo./Kearney) finished 3-for-5 with two RBI in the game. Northern Illinois outhit Miami (Ohio), 11-9.

DeKALB, Ill. – A two out, bases loaded walk-off single by Alex Klonowski (Kearney, Mo./Kearney) overshadowed a complete game pitching effort by Eli Anderson (Glenview/New Trier) as Northern Illinois (18-22, 13-4 MAC) defeated Miami (Ohio), 4-3, to clinch the series. The Redhawks (19-22, 9-8 MAC) took the lead in the top of ninth, 3-2, before NIU’s two out rally. The Huskies have driven in 46 runs with two outs in their 17 MAC contests.

DeKALB, Ill. – Freshman Justin Ruckman (Kankakee/Herscher) threw a two-hit complete game, Northern Illinois’ second such performance of the season, as the Huskies (17-22, 12-4 MAC) defeated Miami (Ohio), 3-1. It was NIU’s seventh complete game of the season and the first of Ruckman’s career. He completed the game with two hits, one earned run, two walks and five strikeouts.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Northern Illinois baseball team (16-22) outhit Iowa in a midweek affair, 6-4, but the Hawkeyes would prevail in the end, 3-2. Both teams committed one error in the game with both of them leading to runs scored in the game. Freshman Tommy Hook finished 2-for-3 in the game with a triple, two runs and a walk. NIU’s pitching staff combined for eight walks in the effort.

ATHENS, Ohio – A five inning pitchers dual gave way to a Northern Illinois (16-21, 11-4 MAC) slugfest as the Huskies combined for 11 hits in the last four innings against Ohio (9-27, 5-10 MAC) to defeat the Bobcats, 10-3. Pitcher Alex Klonowski picked up his fourth win of the season with seven shutout innings and seven strikeouts.

ATHENS, Ohio – Like a heavyweight title fight, Northern Illinois (14-21, 9-4 MAC) and Ohio ((9-6, 5-8 MAC) traded blows in game one of its Mid-American Conference series Friday. It was the Bobcats that would prevail however, as they defeated the Huskies, 5-4. Ohio responded with runs in two of the Huskies three scoring innings.

DeKALB  – The Northern Illinois baseball team (14-20) opened its 10th week of season for a midweek contest with Bradley at Ralph McKinzie Field. The Huskies and Braves finished seven innings of play with Bradley prevailing after 16 hits, 19-0. It was the first home loss for NIU this season.

DeKALB, Ill. – Heard this before? Junior Eli Anderson pitched a complete game Saturday afternoon to clinch the series for Northern Illinois (13-19, 8-3 MAC), defeating Western Michigan (11-23, 5-6 MAC), 3-2. Anderson scattered five hits, struck out a career-high 12 batters while allowing zero walks and zero earned runs in his fourth-consecutive complete game. The NIU hurler is 5-3 this season and is 4-0 in his last four starts.

NORMAL, Ill. – Within one run after the first third of the ball game at Illinois State and despite outhitting the Redbirds (15-15), the Northern Illinois baseball team (11-19) fell at ISU, 9-3. The Huskies outhit the Redbirds in the ballgame, 9-8.

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. – Trailing 3-1 in the eighth inning, the Northern Illinois (11-18, 6-3 MAC) baseball team rallied back with a two-run homerun in the eighth and a pair of RBI walks in the ninth to defeat Central Michigan (12-18, 3-6 MAC) and claim the Huskies first series in Mt. Pleasant since 2009, 5-3. Landon Tenhagen finished 2-for-5 with the two-run blast to tie the game in the eighth. The Huskies claimed sole possession of first place in the MAC West with the win.

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. – Northern Illinois’ Eli Anderson pitched his third-consecutive complete game Saturday at Central Michigan (12-17, 3-5 MAC), striking out six and walking three in the Huskies (10-18, 5-3 MAC) 7-2 triumph. Anderson is now 4-3 this season after his 120 pitch, 78 strike performance (.650 strike ratio). It is the most complete games by an NIU hurler since 2008 Detroit Tigers draftee Trevor Feeney’s three in 2008.

AVON, Ohio – Pressure – the burden of physical or mental distress, according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Northern Illinois (8-17, 4-2 MAC) did not carry a burden or feel distress versus Akron (4-20, 2-4 MAC) on Easter Sunday as it scored 11 of its 14 runs with two outs to sweep the series and defeat the Zips, 14-4. It was the most runs scored by the Huskies this season and the first road sweep since April 13-15, 2012 at Miami (Ohio).

AVON, Ohio – It was Northern Illinois’ (7-17, 3-2 MAC) Eli Anderson who emerged victorious in a pitchers’ dual Saturday afternoon versus Akron (4-19, 2-3 MAC) as the junior hurled his second-straight complete game shutout to defeat the Zips and clinch the series, 2-1. Centerfielder Jamison Wells broke the NIU record for career stolen bases with his 72nd in the third inning.

AVON, Ohio – In call and response fashion at All Pro Freight Stadium, the Northern Illinois baseball team (6-17, 2-2 MAC) defeated Akron (4-18, 2-2 MAC) with two runs in the top of the ninth to give the Huskies a 4-3 victory. Junior Alex Klonowski finished 4-for-4 with two runs and a walk in the game.

Senior is fourth brother to come through the program

CHICAGO – Northern Illinois senior Jamison Wells watched Kent State left-handed pitcher Brian Clark as he stood on first base during the eighth inning of Friday’s 3-2 loss, searching for tendencies that would make it difficult to steal second base.

CHICAGO – After falling into an early gap, the Northern Illinois baseball team (5-16, 1-2 MAC) tied Kent State (8-12, 2-1 MAC) in the bottom of the second inning but the Golden Flashes prevailed in the contest to clinch the Mid-American Conference opening series, 13-1. Freshmen pitchers Bobby Kuntzendorf and Jon Savarise held KSU scoreless in their relief work.

CHICAGO – Junior Eli Anderson hurled a complete game shutout Saturday night versus Kent State, striking out eight and walking three, to lead Northern Illinois (5-15, 1-1 MAC) to a 3-0 victory over Kent State (7-12, 1-1 MAC) at UIC’s Les Miller Field, 3-0. It is the first complete game shutout for the Huskies since April 10, 2011 versus Miami (Ohio), courtesy of Jeremy Gonzales.

CHICAGO – Freshman starting pitcher Jordan Ruckman and his 13 rookie teammates on the Northern Illinois team have known nothing but life on the road in college baseball.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A rounded team effort led Northern Illinois (4-15) to victory in its spring break finale at Belmont (13-6) as the Huskies combined for 11 hits, three for extra bases, to defeat the Bruins, 8-2. Jeff Zimmerman and Brandon Mallder each had two hits and drove in two runs in the game.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – What started as a slugfest turned into a bullpen, small ball showdown as Northern Illinois (3-14) fell to Belmont (13-4) on a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning, 4-3. Both teams combined for five home runs in the contest.

MURRAY, Ky. - The Northern Illinois baseball team (2-13) fell to Murray State (7-9) in its first midweek game of the season, 7-1, Tuesday afternoon at Regan Field.

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Northern Illinois jumped out to early lead at Southern Illinois and created chances to separate itself from the Salukis but were unable to add to the lead and fell in game two of the doubleheader, 4-2. Jeff Zimmerman finished 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles.

DeKALB – Brian Sisler remembers the anxious feeling he had for his first collegiate baseball game.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Junior Alex Klonowski pitched a two-hit complete game versus Big-10 foe Minnesota as he struck out eight and led Northern Illinois over the Golden Gophers, 2-1. Klonowski also finished 2-for-4 at the plate and scored the winning run in the Huskies first ever win over Minnesota.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Starting pitcher Eli Anderson pitched his second quality start of the season for Northern Illinois versus Dartmouth at the Dairy Queen Classic Saturday afternoon, but a solo homerun by the Big Green in the bottom of the seventh defeated the Huskies, 1-0. Anderson struck out six batters while only walking two batters, both in the first inning.

RENO, Nev. - Northern Illinois outhit Nevada in a series finale pitcher’s duel at Peccole Park, 7-4, but a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth handed the Huskies a 3-1 loss. Junior Alex Klonowski pitched career-highs in innings pitched (7.1) and strikeouts (6).

RENO, Nev. – Northern Illinois earned its first win of the season in game two of its doubleheader at Nevada, led by a five run seventh inning and 19 total hits to defeat the Wolf Pack for the first time in program history, 12-4. The 19 hits are most by NIU since hitting 17 at Illinois-Chicago May 2, 2012. The Huskies fell in game one, 13-0.

RENO, Nev. – Northern Illinois put seven runners on base in the final two innings in the series opener against Nevada to mount a late rally at Peccole Park, but the Huskies fell to the Wolf Pack, 7-3.

UBBOCK, Texas – Northern Illinois freshman continued to shine at the Brooks Wallace Memorial Classic as the pups highlighted the Huskies 13-0 loss against Texas Tech in the tournament finale.

DeKALB – Northern Illinois senior pitcher Zach Badgley hasn’t started a game since his freshman year.

Relevant observations, pertinent notes, questions, minutiae and Huskie Trivial Pursuit from your local, retired sports information director:

DeKALB – Every once in awhile, Northern Illinois baseball coach Ed Mathey will show his players the movie “Rookie of the Year” on a road trip.

Beginning today, readers of the HuskieWire website will be asked to answer a simple survey question before reading their first full story.

Eventually, Jake Hermsen got tired of sitting at his computer following the third day of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

DeKALB – On an immaculate sunny and breezy day at Ralph McKinzie Field, the Huskies closed the 2012 season against Ball State. Though NIU rallied back to within one run in the bottom of the fourth, 3-2, the Cardinals took the game 6-2.

DeKALB – Sophomore Chris Divarco finished Friday afternoon’s game against Ball State with a team-best three hits in four at-bats, but the effort was not enough as the Huskies fell to the Cardinals, 11-2.