DeKALB, Ill. - Northern Illinois (16-24) broke a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the eighth with three runs on two hits for a 6-3 non-conference victory over Bradley (12-25) Wednesday afternoon at Ralph McKinzie Field. Joe Etcheverry drew a one-out bases-loaded walk to put the Huskies up 4-3 while Brett Frantini added a two-out two-run single to complete the rally for NIU.

The Huskies used a two-out two-run double by Etcheverry in the bottom of the first to take 2-0 lead, but the Braves answered with three runs on four hits in the third. Freshman shortstop Jason Leblebijian (Arlington Heights, Ill./Prospect H.S.) led off the inning with a single, moved to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a groundout by senior second baseman Matt Fritz (Northbrook, Ill./DePauw University/Glenbrook North H.S). Bradley's next hitter, sophomore third baseman Rob Elliott (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley H.S.) ripped an RBI single through the left side to make the score 2-1.

Junior outfielder Brian Martin (Glen Ellyn, Ill./College of DuPage/Lombard Montini Catholic H.S.) followed with a single, and after a strikeout and a walk, freshman outfielder Mike Tauchman (Palatine, Ill./William Fremd H.S.) delivered a two-out two-run single to put the Braves ahead 3-2.

Northern Illinois tied the game in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single by Alex Jones while a quartet of Huskie relievers held the Braves to just three hits in the final four innings.

Tauchman and senior first baseman Mike McMillan (Bloomington, Ill./Normal University H.S.) each finished 2-for-4 Wednesday. Senior right-hander Kori Jensen (Wichita, Kan./Hutchinson County C.C./Goddard H.S.) took the loss on the mound for Bradley, allowing three earned runs and three walks in 1.1 innings of relief work.

The Braves will host Calumet Saturday, May 1 in a day-night double-header. The first game will be played at O'Brien Field at noon, with the second game to follow at 5 p.m. at Illinois Valley Central High School in Chillicothe, Ill.