When junior shortstop Ryan Kucherak stepped up to the plate under the Saturday afternoon clouds, Northwestern was in an offensive drought. Over the past 11 innings spanning two games against Indiana, the Wildcats (19-25-1, 7-17 Big Ten) had scored just two runs.
On a 2-1 count in the third inning with the bases loaded, Kucherak smacked a ball into the left field corner, bringing home all three runners and tying the game 3-3.
From the third inning of game two to the end of game three, NU outscored the Hoosiers (21-27, 7-17 Big Ten) 16-9 and won both games.
“I thought we competed better the last couple days in the batter’s box,” coach Ben Greenspan said postgame Sunday. “Some guys on the mound really stepped up for us and gave us a chance to win.”
It marks the ’Cats’ first series win over Indiana in Evanston since 2006, a fact that surprised Greenspan, who played for the Hoosiers at the time.
The series didn’t start off nearly as well for NU. The team fell in the series opener at Wrigley Field, the annual ’Cats’ Classic game, 9-2 Friday. The ’Cats were plagued by their own mistakes as well as some subpar hitting performances.
In the Friendly Confines, Indiana did its damage in three innings, scoring one run in the first before plating four runners in both the third and eighth innings. In the third inning, the Hoosiers benefited from three wild pitches, one hit-by-pitch and one passed ball.
Graduate student left-handed pitcher Ryan Weaver started the game for NU and was responsible for all but one of Indiana’s first five runs. In the sixth inning, Greenspan turned to graduate student right-handed pitcher Sam Hliboki, who dealt two scoreless innings.
The ’Cats nabbed both of their two runs in the seventh inning on a single from graduate student second baseman Noah Ruiz, but the Hoosiers extended their lead with four more runs in the eighth. Facing a seven-run deficit, NU’s final six batters were set down in order and Indiana took game one.
“We went there to win, (and) we didn’t do that, so that was disappointing,” Greenspan said. “But when you zoom out and look at the opportunity to play the historic Wrigley Field, that’s something that those guys will never forget.”
The teams headed north to Miller Park for the second game of the series Saturday, and through the top of the third inning, the contest once again started to go south for the ’Cats. The hosts conceded a run in the first inning for the second straight day and trailed 3-0, but Kucherak’s bases-clearing double gave NU the momentum.
Over the next four innings, the ’Cats’ offense scored four more runs while their pitchers allowed just four baserunners and held the Hoosiers scoreless. After a rocky start for sophomore right-handed pitcher Matt Kouser, the starter settled in, tossing six innings of three-run ball with four strikeouts.
Indiana managed to plate one run in the eighth inning off of freshman left-handed pitcher Jake Rifenburg, but the reliever finished the game without any more trouble. He earned his first career save as NU leveled the series at one game apiece with a 7-4 victory.
Looking to take the series in Sunday’s rubber match, the ’Cats’ first-inning woes continued as sophomore left-handed pitcher Alex Grant allowed a home run to the Hoosiers’ first batter. The teams took advantage of a windy day all game, as the homer was the first of six hit by the two squads.
Unlike the previous two games, NU bounced back in the bottom of the first and tied the game 1-1. The runs poured in one inning later.
Senior center fielder Jack Lausch stepped up to bat with two runners on and two outs in the second inning. After a rocky 0-for-5 performance Friday, he bounced back in game two with two hits, including a home run, and three runs scored. His next swing showed game three would be a continuation of the second.
Lausch crushed a hanging breaking ball over the fence, nearly hitting the wall of Welsh-Ryan Arena. The three-run homer opened the scoring in the eventual five-run inning for NU. Lausch reached base in all five of his plate appearances Sunday, drawing a career-high three walks.
He emphasized the patience he has during his time at the plate.
“I’m in control of the at-bat,” Lausch said postgame Sunday. “If he beats me, he beats me, but I can dictate the flow of the at-bat, and it worked out well.”
The Hoosiers scored two runs in the third inning, but the scoring died down in the middle innings, where Greenspan said the game would be won or lost. In relief of Grant, senior right-handed pitcher Drew Dickson hurled 3.2 scoreless innings, allowing zero hits and three walks. Dickson earned the win, his first of the season, with his outing.
The ’Cats tacked on one run in the fourth and seventh innings each, but despite holding a five-run lead, Indiana wasn’t done yet. Thanks to three consecutive walks and a hit-by-pitch issued by junior right-handed pitcher Garrett Shearer, the visitors scored one run and continued to threaten in the eighth inning. Shearer completed the inning, but not before the Hoosiers scored two more runs, cutting the deficit to two.
After freshman first baseman Nick Barron’s solo home run — his third hit of the day — gave NU a bit more cushion, freshman right-handed pitcher James Whitaker entered the game looking to seal the series win.
He set down the three Indiana batters he faced in order, nabbing his first career save as the ’Cats won 9-6.
“What you learn from this weekend is that we have a good team,” Greenspan said. “I think this group is going to compete until they tell us we can’t play anymore.”
Email: [email protected]
X: @jemccl125
Related Stories:
— Baseball: Northwestern flips switch after Friday’s struggle against Indiana
— Baseball: Northwestern’s bats sputter in 9-2 loss to Indiana at Wrigley Field
— Jack Counsell draws inspiration from a childhood around professional baseball
