By ANTHONY SHINGLER
Assistant Sports Editor

The APSU Govs baseball team has hit strides early on this season by sweeping Northern Illinois to improve to 5-2 season.

The Govs won the first game of the series 7-4, thanks to a pitching gem from pitcher Ricky Marshall (2-0), who pitched seven innings with eight strikeouts and allowed only one run. The Govs opened the game with a four-run first inning to take a quick 4-0 lead.

The Govs then loaded the bases on a bunt single from shortstop Jon Clinard, a fielder’s choice by outfielder Adam Browett and a walk by first baseman John Hogan. Blanchard scored on an RBI after Trey Lucas was hit-by-pitch. An error by NIU on a ball hit by utility Matt Kole allowed Hogan and Browett to score. Then another fielder’s choice by NIU allowed Lucas to come home for another score to push the Govs lead to 6-1.

NIU looked to take advantage of the switch at pitcher when the Govs pulled Marshall to go to Kole and scored three runs to end the game.

In the second game the Govs picked up the win off another pitching gem, but this time coming from pitcher Stephen Huff (1-0) who struck out 11 in seven innings of work, allowing one run on two hits, while allowing four walks.

“Huff pitched great,” said Govs head coach Gary McClure. “He threw all three pitches for strikes and really showed unbelievable command. He threw his breaking ball in the dirt when he wanted, same thing with the change up. He was doing all the things he’s got to do in order to be successful. He’s got great stuff.”

The Govs scored four runs on six hits for the game. Two of the runs came off NIU errors in the third inning allowing the Govs to take a 2-0 lead. Third baseman Haskell Fink then went hard for his first home run of the season. The solo shot, which Fink hit off the right-field foul pole in the fourth inning, pushed the Govs lead to 3-0. After taking the 4-0 lead, Huff had a comfortable lead but then NIU got on the board off an RBI single from Troy White that scored Hood.

Pitcher Eric Davis came in the eighth inning to take care of business while retiring all three batters faced in the inning. But in the final stanza, Davis would get himself in a jam by loading the bases with a walk. Davis struck out the next batter, but gave up an RBI walk and hit an NIU batter for another RBI. Then Davis was able to get a fly ball to end the game.

In the final game of the three-game series, the Govs needed extra innings to claim victory 9-8 in 11 innings Sunday, Feb. 28, to finish the series.

NIU (0-6) tied in the game on a three-run ninth inning to put the score at 8-8. NIU used a three-run home run from infielder Joe Etcheverry to take the game into the extra innings.

The Govs used a one-out rally to score the game winner. Lucas reached on an error to begin the rally. Hogan singled the right side to move Lucas from first to third. Browett was intentionally walked to load the bases. Pinch hitter Blake Frazier fouled a ball down the right field line where the NIU player made the catch. Lucas then tagged up to take home on the sacrifice fly out to win the game. Closer Zach Gerler (1-1) picked up the win for the Govs after tossing two scoreless innings in relief.
The Govs will return to the diamond with the Riverview Inn Invitational in Clarksville. The Govs will take on Milwaukee on Friday, March 5, Dayton on Saturday, March 6 and SIU-Edwardsville, Sunday, March 7. All three games will have a 3 p.m. first pitch at Raymond C. Hand Park.

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