NEW ORLEANS – Nolan Morr threw six shutout innings and Garrett Shearer closed out the final three innings in a 9-0 shutout Opening Day win for Northwestern baseball. The win marked Ben Greenspan's first as the head coach of the Northwestern Wildcats.
Northwestern struck first on the top of the first, when Trent Liolios plated Owen McElfatrick and Tony Livermore to take a 2-0 lead.Opening Day ??! pic.twitter.com/Ni4rfVv5JX
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) February 17, 2024
The Wildcats tacked onto the lead on a Vince Bianchina single that drove in Jackson Freeman to extend the lead to 3-0.
Nolan Morr kept the Green Wave bats, silent tossing six scoreless innings, striking out five batters, allowing four hits, and issuing no walks.
The 'Cats broke the game open in the top of the eighth, tacking on three more runs to extend the lead to 6-0..@nolan_morr is DEALING ??
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) February 17, 2024
His fifth K of the night takes us to the 7th with a 3-0 lead! pic.twitter.com/xIkgwtGFyh
With the bases loaded in the top of the ninth, Tyler Ganus doubled home three runs, putting NU up 9-0.
Garrett Shearer earned the save in his first career appearance. Shearer struck out five batters while allowing just one hit in three innings of work.
Game Notes.@GarrettShearer5 sends us to the 9th with ?????????????? K! pic.twitter.com/f3gOWE2pRs
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) February 17, 2024
- Northwestern claimed its first season-opening win since 2016.
- NU's nine runs are its most in a game since May 7, 2023 against Indiana.
- Tyler Ganus slugged a career-high three hits, driving in three runs from the leadoff spot.
- Trent Liolios plated two runs on two hits, including a go-ahead RBI single in the top of the first inning.
- Jackson Freeman went 1-for-3 with three runs in his first collegiate game.
- Jackson Freeman, Griffin Mills, and Garrett Shearer all made their collegiate debuts as first-years.