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BROOKLINE, Mass. – Zach Perry's single up the middle in the 12th inning dribbled just out of reach of Buffalo's Bobby Sheppard and allowed Cam Walsh to score from second as the Northeastern baseball team walked off as 1-0 winners during the Huskies' 2016 home opener Friday at Friedman Diamond.
 
Coming off an 11-strikeout performance against Washington State on March 11, Aaron Civale fanned 10 Bulls hitters while walking none during 9.0 innings on the mound, the longest outing of the junior's career. Civale conceded just three hits and retired 18 consecutive batters from the second to the eighth innings, striking out five in a row during the fifth and sixth.
 
Mike Fitzgerald began the 10th inning for Northeastern (8-8) and tossed three shutout innings, striking out two, walking one, and allowing two hits. With runners on the corners and one out in the top of the 12th, Fitzgerald forced Andrew Taft to ground into a 6-4-3, inning-ending double play, leaving the door open for the Huskies to walk-off during the home half of the frame.
 
Perry tallied two of Northeastern's three hits during the afternoon, hopping a ground-rule double over the right-field wall before delivering the game-winning hit in the 12th. Charlie McConnell provided NU with its only other hit of the game, cracking a single during his first at-bat in the second.
 
Walsh led off the final frame with a full-count walk and following Pat Madigan's strikeout, stole second during McConnell's turn at the dish. After McConnell was also retired on strikes for the second out of the inning, Perry knocked a 2-0 pitch up the middle, bringing Walsh around to score before the throw from center had made it to the plate.
 
Alec Tuohy was nearly perfect for Buffalo (5-8), throwing seven strikeouts and two walks during 7.0 innings on the hill. Tuohy was relieved by Logan Harasta at the start of the eighth, who pitched two innings before Mike Kaelin picked up the reigns in the 10th.
 
Northeastern and Buffalo will resume their series on Saturday, March 19, at 1 p.m. Left-hander James Mulry (1-3, 4.57 ERA) is projected to face the Bulls' Charlie Sobieraski (2-1, 7.06 ERA).
 

OF NOTE
- Northeastern has now won four of its last five home openers. The Huskies have celebrated victories against Brown (2012), Boston College (2013), Niagara (2014), and Buffalo (2016).
- Aaron Civale threw his fifth combined shutout on Friday and second as a starter (previous three as reliever). Mike Fitzgerald preserved his third shutout as a reliever.
- The Huskies have shutout three opponents during the 2016 season (ties total from entire 2015 season).