Northwestern dropped all three games at Minnesota over the weekend. Unable to maintain momentum from their midweek wins over Bradley and St. Thomas, the Wildcats (16-24-1, 5-16 Big Ten) lost 13-1, 7-3 and 7-2 to the Gophers (26-17, 8-13 Big Ten).

NU scored just one run in the series opener on Friday, courtesy of senior outfielder Jack Lausch in the top of the third. Lausch doubled at the start of the inning, giving him his third consecutive multi-hit game. An RBI groundout from graduate student infielder Noah Ruiz brought him home.

Two Minnesota runs in the first two innings put the score at 3-1 going into the bottom of the third, in which the Gophers brought three more batters home. The game ended in a 13-1 run-rule victory for the Gophers after they scored eight runs in the bottom of the fifth, giving them the series lead.

In game two on Saturday, NU was scoreless until the top of the eighth, when sophomore catcher Jay Slater hit his sixth home run of the season to left field, bringing himself, freshman infielder Jake Yang and sophomore outfielder Logan de Groot home. 

The ’Cats were unable to maintain their 3-2 lead going into the bottom of the eighth. The Gophers scored five runs, including a homer, an unearned run on a passed ball and a run resulting from a wild pitch.

The Gophers’ 7-3 game two victory widened their series lead to 2-0.

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Matt Kouser and Minnesota’s starting pitcher began the series closer on Sunday with five consecutive scoreless innings. Kouser earned his second quality start of his last three games pitched after surrendering two runs on five hits over six innings pitched.

It took until the bottom of the sixth, when Minnesota hit a two-run home run, for a score to get on the board. NU was unable to respond in the seventh, and Minnesota scored five more in the bottom of the inning. All five runs were unearned, two being the result of an error by left field.

NU scored twice in the top of the eighth. Yang grounded out the ball to third base, allowing freshman infielder Nick Barron to get to home plate. Barron’s run and his two doubles gave him a 2-for-4 in the game. Slater also had a multi-hit game, ending with a 2-for-3.

The next batter up after Barron, senior infielder Owen McElfatrick hit a double to center field, scoring junior outfielder Griffin Mills and bringing the score to 7-2.

Minnesota won the game after NU failed to score in the top of the ninth, taking the series 3-0.

The ’Cats return to action Tuesday for a midweek game against Milwaukee at home. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

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