TOLEDO, Ohio - The Rockets led by four after the first inning, but were ultimately defeated in 11 innings, 7-4, by Mid-American Conference opponent Northern Illinois on Saturday afternoon at Mercy Field.

Toledo (5-17, 0-2 MAC) jumped at its initial opportunity and scored in the first inning for the second-straight game. Junior Brad Boss opened the half inning with a walk and sophomore Riley Campbell reached on a perfectly placed bunt single. Junior Matt Hansen walked to load the bases and junior Dalton Bollinger hit a fly ball to center field, deep enough to score Boss from third.

Montoya singled through the right side with one out to score Campbell. After freshman Malave Bettinger moved Hansen and Montoya into scoring position, sophomore Ross Adolph broke a personal cold streak with a two-out, two-run double down the left-field line. The Rockets led 4-0 after the first.

Northern Illinois (6-16, 2-0 MAC) was kept in check by fifth-year senior Ross Achter. Achter started the game with five scoreless innings. After allowing an unearned run of the game in the sixth, the southpaw bounced back with a 1-2-3 inning in the seventh.

As Achter dealt, the Toledo offense sputtered. The Rockets were blanked for the rest of the game after the four-run outburst in the first. A high pitch count and a pair of runners aboard in the seventh inning chased Achter after 7.0+ innings. He allowed three unearned runs on eight hits, a walk and seven strikeouts.

A three-run eighth inning for the Huskies tied the game, but the Rockets had a golden opportunity to win it in the bottom of the ninth. Senior Jake Krupar pinch hit and led off the inning with a single. Freshman Antonio Bennett walked and both runners advanced 90 feet with a Boss sacrifice bunt. Campbell was intentionally walked and it paid off as NIU turned a double play to get out of the inning.

NIU had a similar chance in the top of the 10th with two on and one out. As runners were moving, a line drive into the glove of Hansen at short created an easy double play to retire the side.

The Huskies rallied for three runs in the 11th to put the game away.

Senior Josh Cales (0-1) takes the loss on the mound for the Rockets. Ryne Blanton is credited for the win.

The Rockets and Huskies finish their three-game series on Sunday at Mercy Field. Game time has been moved up to 10:00 a.m. due to impending weather.