ATHENS, Ohio (Interstat) — Max Vaisvila and two relievers combined on a four-hit shutout through eight innings and Caden Robertson delivered a decisive three-run homer as the Northern Illinois Huskies completed a series victory with an 8-2 win over the Ohio Bobcats in Mid-American Conference baseball Sunday at Bob Wren Stadium.

The most important part of the game came in the top of the fifth inning, breaking open what had been a tight pitchers’ duel. With Northern Illinois leading 1-0, Gavin Baldwin and Ivan Dahlberg hit back-to-back singles with two outs. Designated hitter Caden Robertson then stepped in and launched a three-run home run to left field off Ohio starter AJ Dallmayer, suddenly extending the Huskies’ lead to 4-0 and providing all the offense Vaisvila would ultimately need.

Vaisvila, the top star for Northern Illinois, was dominant. The right-hander pitched six innings, allowing just one run on a solo home run by Ohio’s Cam Bryant in the second inning. He surrendered only that one hit, walked one and struck out eight. Over his last two starts, Vaisvila has now pitched 12 innings without allowing an earned run. Nick Bassi followed with two perfect innings of relief, striking out four, before Josh Loren closed out the ninth.

The Huskies (9-5, 2-1 MAC) capitalized on Ohio mistakes to pull away, scoring two unearned runs in the sixth inning after a key error by the Bobcats’ second baseman. Pinch-hitter Nolan Sandee added a sacrifice fly in the seventh, and Vinny Spotofora drove in the final run with an RBI single in the ninth.

Ohio (3-13, 1-2) managed only four hits total. Reese Harmon hit a solo home run in the eighth inning off Bassi for the Bobcats’ second run. Dallmayer took the loss, lasting five innings and allowing four earned runs on five hits while striking out six.

Northern Illinois finished with 10 hits. Baldwin went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, while Cole Smith scored twice.

The victory gave Northern Illinois the series win after the teams split the first two games. The Huskies’ pitching staff rebounded strongly after allowing 14 runs in Friday’s loss, surrendering only three total runs over the final two games of the series.

The game, which started in the afternoon and concluded in the evening, defied the pregame projection from Interstat, which had simulated a 6-4 Northern Illinois win and gave the Huskies a 52.4% probability of victory.

Northern Illinois will travel to face Toledo in a three-game MAC series starting Friday. Ohio will head to Austin Peay for a two-game midweek set beginning Tuesday.