The SIU baseball team (7-12) won its first series against Northern Illinois (4-14) since 2007, taking two wins in a three-game set.

The Saluki bats exploded Friday for season-high run total as they defeated the Huskies 19-4, posting more than one run in each of their four scoring frames. Southern also had a season-high 22 hits on the day.

Senior left-hander Ryan Bradley made the start, giving up three runs and striking out four through four innings. Junior pitcher Daniel Etienne (1-0) was called in to relieve Bradley and allowed one run through four innings. Etienne was credited with his first win of the season.

The pitching staff maintained its high level of play in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, as SIU allowed a season-low five hits en route to a 5-2 victory.

Despite receiving a no-decision, senior right-hander Nathan Forer threw 4.1 innings in his first start of the season without allowing an earned run. Freshman Lee Weld (1-3) took over in the fifth and shut NIU down at the plate for his first win as college pitcher, striking out four through 4.2 innings of scoreless pitching.

Senior catcher Tyler Bullock led all Saluki hitters, as he went 3-4 in Saturday’s contest and hit his third homer of the season.

In the second game of the doubleheader Saturday, SIU’s pitching fell off the wagon — walking a total of 11 batters. NIU took the final game of the series behind a season-high run total, winning 13-9.

Junior Randy Hoelscher (0-2) made the start, but allowed five runs off three hits and three walks in one inning of work. Senior lefty Jimmy Cornell was called on in the second, but issued five free passes and surrendered four runs through 3.1 innings of work. Hoelscher was credited with the loss, while NIU’s junior Jeremy Gonzales (2-0) picked up the win.

SIU will go on the road for a single-game matchup at 4 p.m. Tuesday with the University of Tennessee-Martin before it returns to Carbondale for an eight-game home stand.

Ray McGillis can be reached at [email protected] or 536-3311 ext. 269.