CHICAGO -- Northern Illinois put up three runs in the top of the first inning and the Huskies never looked back as they posted a 5-1 victory over UIC in the final game of an 11-game homestand for the Flames.

NIU's (7-16) first four runs were unearned Tuesday and the Huskies took full advantage of four errors charged to UIC (15-7), including a pair in the three-run first inning. All five of NIU's runs in the nonconference victory came with two outs.

David Becker led the Flames with two hits and drove in the team's lone run with a single in the bottom of the second inning that scored teammate Bowen Ogata.

How It Happened
UIC starting pitcher Braeden Toikka retired the first two hitters of the game before a single, a pair of errors on the Flames and a two-run home run from NIU's Scooter Bynum to right field helped the Huskies take a 3-0 lead.

The home team cut down its deficit in the bottom of the second inning. NIU's Blake Walker retired the first two hitters he faced before Ogata ignited a two-out rally with a base hit to center field. He moved up to second when Walker uncorked a wild pitch. After Thomas Smart walked, Becker delivered his RBI single to score Ogata from second base.

Neither team dented the scoreboard in the third or fourth innings before the Huskies got a run back in the top of the fifth. With two down once again, NIU's Joe Jumonville reached on a two-base error and made it to third on a wild pitch from Toikka. Two batters later, with runners on the corners, UIC's starter was called for a balk, allowing Jumonville to score and push the lead back up to three runs. Toikka bounced back and fanned Samuel Vega to end the inning.

The visitors tacked on one more insurance run in the top of the ninth. Brad Wood singled to start the inning and he later found himself on third base with two down. He scored when Vega beat Masa on a full-count pitch and poked a base hit into center field.

Beyond the Box Score

• UIC finished 8-3 on its 11-game homestand. The Flames are 9-3 overall at Granderson Stadium this season and 1-1 against NIU.
• Alex Dee's streak of reaching base safely in 12 consecutive contests was snapped Tuesday. The UIC first baseman went 0-for-3 against the Huskies after hitting two home runs and driving in seven runs in the first meeting between the two clubs on March 14. Scott Ota now owns the team's longest active on-base streak at five games. The right fielder was hitless Tuesday, but did draw a walk.
• Braeden Toikka pitched a season-high 5.0 innings to open the game for the Flames.
• UIC's four errors matched a season high. The Flames also had four miscues at UTRGV on Feb. 23, but won that game, 4-3.

Up Next

• The Flames will jump back into Horizon League play on Friday, March 30 at Youngstown State. The two teams will play a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m CT before finishing the series on Saturday afternoon at 12 p.m.