Northwestern’s winning momentum did not falter after capturing its first season-opening series victory since 2008 last weekend.
In their four-game stretch in Cary, North Carolina, the Wildcats (5-2, 0-0 Big Ten) recorded a win over Harvard and two victories over Fordham. This marks their best start since 2003 when they started 6-1.
In the team’s weekend opening tilt with the Crimson, graduate student left-hander Crawford Wade bounced back from a tough first appearance last weekend.
Wade struck out nine batters in seven scoreless innings of work to pick up the win. Paired with graduate student right-hander Sam Hliboki, who tossed the game’s final two innings and struck three batters out, the ’Cats defense was stout.
Offensively, NU was equally hot.
Junior infielder Trent Liolios opened the scoring with a third-inning RBI single that scored junior outfielder Jack Lausch. Later in the inning, graduate student utility player Tyler Ganus singled to bring home Liolios and extend the lead to two.
NU piled it on in the fifth inning as sophomore outfielder Jackson Freeman and senior catcher Bennett Markinson both notched RBI singles to give the ’Cats a 4-0 lead. After NU extended its lead by one in the eighth frame, Harvard responded with a run of its own, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the dominant slinging duo of Wade and Hliboki.
In the first of NU’s matchups against Fordham Sunday, the ’Cats jumped out to a quick lead. After Ganus doubled in the top of the first inning, Markinson launched a two-run shot over the left field fence to score them both.
Fordham scored one run to cut the deficit in the bottom of the frame, but that would be it. Sophomore right-hander Garrett Shearer built on last weekend’s successful showing, throwing six scoreless innings as the ’Cats notched a 2-1 win.
In the teams’ second contest of the day, Fordham grabbed an early 2-0 lead.
In the fourth inning, Markinson answered the call, blasting a 2-run home run to tie things up. The ’Cats continued to blow the game open in the subsequent inning when Ganus poked an RBI single up the middle and Markinson hit a three-run homer to put NU up four.
Fordham responded in the next inning with an RBI single, but three more runs from the ’Cats between the seventh and eighth innings put the game out of reach.
Reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week Matthew Kouser picked up the win, throwing six innings and allowing three runs on eight hits. Graduate student left-hander Blake MacMillan pitched three scoreless innings in relief as NU moved to 3-0 on the weekend.
As the ’Cats turned towards their first conference foe of the season in Indiana, the matchup proved much more competitive than the Hoosiers’ preseason accolades may have indicated.
The Hoosiers were ranked in Baseball America’s preseason top 25 poll and featured the unanimous Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year, but that didn’t seem to intimidate NU.
Hliboki, who pitched in relief Saturday, earned the start. The right-hander started off strong, tossing three scoreless innings to start the game.
NU’s play was complimentary early on, as a Ganus sacrifice fly scored senior outfielder Preston Knott and gave NU a 1-0 advantage.
After junior infielder Owen McElfatrick kicked off the second inning with a double, sophomore infielder Ryan Kucherak scored him on a groundout to further extend the lead.
The Hoosiers didn’t get on the board until the fourth inning when an RBI double cut the NU lead in half.
Following two scoreless innings for both squads, Indiana came alive when it mattered most. Indiana outfielder Korbyn Dickerson knocked an RBI single to left field to tie the game at two in the bottom of the seventh inning. A frame later an RBI infield single allowed the Hoosiers to take their first lead.
The ’Cats’ backs were against the ropes in the top of the ninth inning, but a new addition stepped up.
Needing a run to stay alive with two outs and McElfatrick on second base, Lausch singled to left center, scoring McElfatrick and tying the game at three. Former Wildcat Ben Grable took over on the mound for Indiana and got out of the inning to send the Hoosiers back to the dugout.
The ’Cats were just unable to hold onto their lead in the bottom of the frame as sophomore right-hander Cole Mascott allowed a single, a walk and an RBI single to hand Indiana a walk-off 4-3 victory.
Following another winning weekend, NU will have its work cut out for it again as it faces No. 17 Duke in a weekend series starting Friday afternoon.
Email: annawatson2027@u.northwestern.edu
X: @adub_sports
Related Stories:
— Jack Lausch makes his long-awaited return to baseball
