The Northern Illinois University baseball team led throughout much of Tuesday’s game against the Eastern Illinois Panthers at Coaches Stadium but needed two runs in the top of the ninth to come back for a 15-14 win to snap its eight-game losing streak.

“We needed this win,” said head coach Ryan Copeland. “We’ve played a ton of close, tough games so far. We found a way to make that one extra pitch and got the big hits offensively. We have so things to figure out on the mound and we’ll do that on the fly because we have to bounce right back tomorrow and then it’s on to Butler.”

NIU (8-13) led 7-6 going into the sixth inning. Nolan Sandee (Glendale, Wis./Nicolet) led off with a walk, then took second base on a wild pitch and got to third on a groundout. Charlie Parcell (Des Plaines, Ill./Maine West) ripped a single up the middle to score Sandee and put the Huskies up 8-6. Logan Gregorio followed with a base hit. Gavin Baldwin (Nashville, Ill./SEMO) then knocked in Parcell with a single to make the score 9-6. Andrew Smart then hit a three-run home run over the left centerfield wall to give NIU a 12-6 lead.

Eastern Illinois (9-13) responded with four runs in the bottom of the sixth, capped off by a Chris Worcester two-run single that made the score 12-10. Both teams scored a run in the seventh to make it 13-11. The Panthers took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the eighth as a Mike O’Conor three-run home run put Eastern Illinois ahead 14-13.

The Huskies answered in the top of the ninth. With one out Parcell hit a single and got to third on a Gregorio double. Jalen House came on a pinch-runner for Gregorio as Baldwin hit a single to centerfield, scoring both Parcell and House to put NIU up 15-14.

“Logan was on the barrel all day and Gavin delivered with that big hit in the ninth,” Copeland said. “Gavin was outstanding. The offense picked us up when we needed it the most and hopefully we can carry that momentum into tomorrow.”

Eastern Illinois had a chance in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases with two outs but Conner Lutes (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville) struck out O’Conor looking to end the game and lock up his first career save.

NIU put a crooked number on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning. Gregorio and Will Couchman (Edina, Minn./NIACC) both hit home runs as the Huskies took a 5-0 lead. Eastern Illinois responded with an Eli Hill grand slam over the left field fence to make the score 5-4. The Panthers had runners at second and third with two away when Gavin Micklinghoff (McHenry, Ill./McHenry County College) got Jake Ottensmeier to fly out to end the inning.  The Panthers tied the game in the bottom of the second on an O’Conor sacrifice fly.

The Huskies took back the lead in the top of the third. With runners at first and third and one out Loyd hit a groundball back to the Eastern Illinois pitcher Eli Cartwright who went to first for the out. Andrew Smart (Evanston, Ill./Oakton CC) broke for home on the throw and scored to give the Huskies a 6-5 lead. Eastern Illinois responded in the bottom of the third. The Panthers executed a double steal with two outs in the inning with Brett Stanley scoring to make it a 6-6 game as Ottensmeier got to second.

Gregorio led NIU with four hits on the day, including his seventh home run of the year to tie him with Baldwin for the team lead. Baldwin was 3-for-6 with three RBI as Smart also drove in three runs. Alex Day (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) earned the win in relief with a scoreless inning. Lutes’ save was the first of his career and made him the fourth different NIU pitcher to record a save so far this season.

“Conner got two really big outs to close this game,” said Copeland about the senior reliever. “He’s a guy that does everything right and is a great teammate. He deserved a moment like that and I’m really happy for him.”

NIU returns to DeKalb on Wednesday, March 26 to host the UIC Flames. First pitch at Ralph McKinzie Field at Walt & Janice Owens Park is at 2 p.m.