The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Northern Illinois
Baseball Completes Three-Game Sweep with 5-4 Walk-Off Win over NIU
April 12 | Baseball
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AKRON, Ohio – With the game locked in a 4-all tie, sophomore catcher Brian Lees launched a one-out sacrifice fly to center field to score redshirt freshman outfielder Mason Mamarella in the bottom of the ninth inning and lift the University of Akron baseball team to a 5-4 victory over Northern Illinois in walk-off fashion as the Zips swept the three-game series at Lee R. Jackson Field.
The victory marks Akron's third MAC series win this season as the Zips improve to 16-16 overall and 8-4 in conference play. The Huskies slipped to 13-21 overall and 4-8 in the MAC.
Heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, Nothern Illinois held a 4-3 advantage over Akron. Junior infielder Billy Salem reached on a fielder's choice that pushed redshirt senior outfielder Joey Havrilak across the plate to knot the game at 4-all and set up the walk-off win.
Despite not recording a hit in the affair, Salem posted a game-high two RBI. Havrilak went 3-for-5 at the plate with a run scored and an RBI while Dom Iero went 2-for-4, including a double, with one run scored.
The win went to senior left-handed pitcher Pat Dyer (3-0), who made his first appearance on the mound since exiting a March 15 contest at Davidson with a concussion. Dyer pitched 3.2 innings of relief and held NIU to just three hits while fanning three and walking none.
Dyer took to the mound to relieve starter Jon Pusateri who threw 5.1 innings and struck out five.
Northern Illinois got on the board first and held a 2-0 advantage following an RBI single and a bases-loaded walk in the top of the second inning.
Akron answered back in the bottom of the fifth inning when senior outfielder Dan Lawrence scored on an NIU error after leading of the inning with a double down the right field line. Havrilak then knocked an RBI single to tie the game at 2-2.
The Huskies plated two in the top of the sixth to take back the lead at 4-2 when two inherited runs crossed against Dyer.
The Zips contested one run in the bottom half of the frame with a sacrifice fly from Salem to trail 4-3 until Salem struck again to tie the game on the fielder's choice RBI in the eighth.
Akron and NIU finished the game tied at seven hits apiece. The Huskies posted two errors to Akron's one.
The Zips are back in action at home on Tuesday for a midweek match-up against Marshall at 3 p.m at Lee R. Jackson Field.
