TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Interstat) — Nolan Sandee went 2-for-2 with four RBIs and Northern Illinois held off a late Coastal Carolina rally to win 12‑10 in a playoff game Friday at Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium.
(Interstat) — The Huskies (36-17) built a 12-4 lead through four innings, fueled by a six-run fourth. Sandee delivered a two-run double in the ninth that proved crucial. Marcus Romero added two RBIs and Cole Smith had a triple and an RBI for Northern Illinois.
Coastal Carolina (37-22) chipped away. Dean Mihos hit a sacrifice fly in the first inning, then a three-run homer in the ninth to cut the deficit to two. He finished 3-for-5 with four RBIs. Blagen Pado scored on an error in a two-run second, and Colby Thorndyke doubled in two runs in the fifth.
Pitcher Cooper Cohn threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings with four strikeouts for Northern Illinois. Daniel Parker struck out four in four innings for the Chanticleers, allowing two earned runs. Max Vaisvila and Cole Smith also contributed on the mound for the Huskies.