TOLEDO, Ohio - The Rockets were haunted by the big innings as Mid-American Conference opponent Northern Illinois scored four in the third inning and five in the ninth en route to a 9-3 final on Sunday morning at Mercy Field.

Toledo (5-18, 0-3 MAC) scored first in the opening two games of the series, but played from behind as the Huskies put up a crooked number in the third. An RBI singled plated the first run of the game and the first of two NIU three-run doubles pushed across the other three runners.

Northern Illinois (7-16, 3-0) did no more damage against senior Sam Shutes. Shutes blanked the Huskies in the fourth and fifth to keep the Rockets close in the late innings. 

The Rockets cut the lead in half with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. Sophomore Riley Campbell beat out an official scorer's single an advanced on a single by junior Matt Hansen. Both runners moved up 90 feet on a passed ball and scored on and scored on a two-run single by junior Dalton Bollinger.

UT pulled within one, 4-3, against the NIU bullpen in the seventh. Freshman Michael Ryan walked, but was retired on freshman Antonio Bennett's fielder's choice. Bennett advanced to second on ground out and raced around to score on a single by Campbell.

Northern Illinois squashed an chance of Toledo completing the comeback with a five-run ninth to make the score 9-3.

The pitcher of record for the Rockets was Shutes (2-4). Donovin Sims picked up his third win of the season for NIU, while George Faue was credited with a save. Fifth-year senior Caleb Schillace was solid again out of the bullpen, allowing just two hits and a walk in 2.2 innings.

The Rockets will play a pair of midweek games on Tuesday, March 28 and Wednesday, March 29. UT will travel to Michigan and host Oakland, respectively.