AKRON, Ohio (Interstat) — The Akron Zips rallied from an early three-run deficit and used a parade of six pitchers to secure a 4-3 victory over the Northern Illinois Huskies in a Mid-American Conference baseball game Sunday at InfoCision Stadium.

The win, which unfolded over an afternoon that stretched into evening, allowed the Zips to salvage the final game of a three-game series after dropping the first two to the Huskies.

Northern Illinois struck quickly against Akron starter Carter Beck. Wyatt Wawro led off the game with a walk, Gavin Baldwin doubled, and after two walks, Nolan Sandee drew a bases-loaded walk to force in the game’s first run. The Huskies managed only one hit in the inning but took a 1-0 lead without the benefit of a base hit, a theme for their early offense.

Akron’s response was delayed but decisive. The Zips broke through in the bottom of the third inning against Northern Illinois starter Carter Cox. Blake Bowen led off with a double and scored when Easton Amundson reached on a throwing error by Huskies second baseman Kayden Jennings. Brady Bowen followed with another double, and Brennan Morgan delivered a two-run single up the middle to tie the game at 3-3. All three runs in the inning were charged to Cox, who otherwise pitched effectively, allowing no hits over 5 2/3 innings but struggling with control, walking three and hitting a batter.

The most important part of the game came in the bottom of the sixth inning, with the score still tied. After Cox issued a one-out walk to load the bases, Huskies reliever John Lyman was summoned and promptly walked Blake Bowen on four pitches, forcing in Tucker Biehl with the go-ahead run. That bases-loaded walk proved to be the decisive margin. Josh Loren entered and got the final out to limit the damage, but the Zips had secured a 4-3 lead they would not relinquish.

Northern Illinois threatened in the eighth when Vinny Spotofora tripled down the left-field line with one out. Wawro followed with a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Spotofora to pull the Huskies within a run. That was as close as they would get, as Akron reliever Trieg Matthews and closer Floyd McKenna shut the door. Matthews earned the win with 2 2/3 innings of one-run relief, and McKenna pitched a perfect ninth for the save.

The Huskies’ offense was limited to six hits, with Spotofora collecting three, including the triple. The Zips racked up 10 hits, led by Brady Bowen’s 3-for-4 day and Blake Bowen’s two doubles, a hit-by-pitch, an intentional walk, and two RBIs.

Akron’s bullpen combination of Landon Vandegrift, Matthews, and McKenna was pivotal, combining for 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball after Beck lasted only 2 2/3 innings. Nick Bassi provided key relief for Northern Illinois, tossing 1 2/3 scoreless innings to keep the game tight.

With the loss, Northern Illinois falls to 22-12 overall. Akron improves to 16-23. The result defied the pregame projections from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted a 7-2 Huskies victory and gave Northern Illinois a 58 percent probability of winning.

Northern Illinois travels to face Illinois-Chicago on Tuesday. Akron’s next game is a road contest at Ohio State, also on Tuesday.