LINCOLN, Neb. – Northwestern used five home runs and clutch hitting late to secure a 9-7 victory in the series opener at Nebraska on Friday night at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park.
DH Preston Knott opened up the scoring in the top of the second with a solo shot to right-center, putting the 'Cats up 1-0. Nebraska (17-21, 5-11 Big Ten) responded with a pair of back-to-back solo homers in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead.
In the top of the second, the Wildcats (17-18, 8-8 Big Ten) used back-to-back jacks of their own to retake the lead. RF Jackson Freeman's two-run blast scored C Bennett Markinson to put the 'Cats back in front. Next batter, SS Ryan Kucherak went deep to extend the 'Cats advantage to 4-2. Nebraska scratched one run across in the bottom of the second to cut the Wildcat lead in half.
3B Owen McElfatrick slugged his third homer in the last two games, a two-run shot to left field, scoring Knott, to stretch the NU lead to 6-3. The Huskers continued to chip away at the deficit, scoring another on an RBI double in the bottom of the third to make it 6-4.
In the top of the fourth, Kucherak hit his second home run of the game, a solo shot to right field, his ninth of the season and eighth of Big Ten play, second-most in the league behind only teammate Trent Liolios.
Nebraska 3B Joshua Overbeek hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth to trim the deficit to one and a solo blast in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game at seven.
In the top of the ninth Northwestern loaded the bases for C Bennett Markinson, who singled to right field, scoring 2B Jacob Hand and Knott put Northwestern ahead for good.
Game Notes
The Wildcats and Huskers will wrap up the series with a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. CT. The series finale will begin approximately 45 minutes following the conclusion of Saturday's first game. Both games will be streamed on B1G+.
Northwestern's five home runs marked its third time this season hitting five homers, all in Big Ten games (March 21 G2 vs. Illinois, March 29 at Maryland). NU's three five-homer games are its most in Big Ten play since 2021 (five). The Wildcats' nine runs are their most at Nebraska since an 11-3 win on April 10, 2016.'CATS WIN! ?? pic.twitter.com/x6YJOpRbkF
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) April 19, 2025
DH Preston Knott opened up the scoring in the top of the second with a solo shot to right-center, putting the 'Cats up 1-0. Nebraska (17-21, 5-11 Big Ten) responded with a pair of back-to-back solo homers in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead.
In the top of the second, the Wildcats (17-18, 8-8 Big Ten) used back-to-back jacks of their own to retake the lead. RF Jackson Freeman's two-run blast scored C Bennett Markinson to put the 'Cats back in front. Next batter, SS Ryan Kucherak went deep to extend the 'Cats advantage to 4-2. Nebraska scratched one run across in the bottom of the second to cut the Wildcat lead in half.
3B Owen McElfatrick slugged his third homer in the last two games, a two-run shot to left field, scoring Knott, to stretch the NU lead to 6-3. The Huskers continued to chip away at the deficit, scoring another on an RBI double in the bottom of the third to make it 6-4.
In the top of the fourth, Kucherak hit his second home run of the game, a solo shot to right field, his ninth of the season and eighth of Big Ten play, second-most in the league behind only teammate Trent Liolios.
Nebraska 3B Joshua Overbeek hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth to trim the deficit to one and a solo blast in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game at seven.
In the top of the ninth Northwestern loaded the bases for C Bennett Markinson, who singled to right field, scoring 2B Jacob Hand and Knott put Northwestern ahead for good.
LHP Crawford Wade (4-4) slammed the door in the ninth to earn the win in 3.0 innings pitched. Wade allowed one run on five hits, punching out four.BARK. CLUTCH. https://t.co/SOCd4IYg6u pic.twitter.com/d3p6KFdYyc
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) April 19, 2025
Game Notes
- Northwestern hit back-to-back homers for the second time this season (March 30 at Maryland).
- Preston Knott extended his reached base streak to 10 games and his hit streak to seven games.
- Jackson Freeman's 34 RBI are tied for the team-lead with Trent Liolios.
The Wildcats and Huskers will wrap up the series with a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. CT. The series finale will begin approximately 45 minutes following the conclusion of Saturday's first game. Both games will be streamed on B1G+.
B1G Time. pic.twitter.com/LbbzlzBviV
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) April 19, 2025