EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern hit four home runs in a 17-2 run-rule win to secure the series victory on Sunday afternoon at Rocky and Berenice Miller Park.
The Wildcats added on with seven runs on three hits in the bottom of the second. Owen McElfatrick scored DH Trent Liolios with a base hit. Jackson Freeman drove in a pair with a two-run double to extend the lead with a double down the right-field line. Bennett Markinson and 1B Tyler Ganus each worked bases-loaded walks to drive in a run. In his second plate appearance of the inning, Liolios doubled down the left-field line to score Markinson and Lausch and extend NU's lead to 10-0.
Ohio State (12-35, 4-23 Big Ten) scored a pair in the top of the third. RF Trey Lipsey notched an RBI double down the right-field line to score 3B Will Carpenter and LF Matthew Graveline grounded out to shortstop, pushing CF Sal Mineo across.
In the bottom of the third, SS Ryan Kucherak hit a solo shot down the left-field line, and CF Jack Lausch homered to center field to score three runs and stretch the Wildcat lead to 13-2.
Pinch-hitting in the bottom of the fifth, graduate student Pirmin Brechbuhl hit his first-career homer, a three-run blast to left field to score Markinson and Ganus and extend NU's lead to 16-2.
Kucherak hit his second homer of the game in the bottom of the sixth, notching his third multi-homer game of the season and recording his 15th homer of the season to move into a tie for second-place in Northwestern single-season history.
LHP Blake MacMillan (5-2) earned the win in 6.2 innings pitched, surrendering two runs on four hits and two walks, striking out three.
Northwestern (23-25, 12-15 Big Ten) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead when C Bennett Markinson cleared the bases with a triple to center field, scoring 3B Owen McElfatrick, RF Jackson Freeman, and CF Jack Lausch.RUN-RULE ?? SERIES DUB ?? pic.twitter.com/bpiBCUhWi7
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) May 11, 2025
The Wildcats added on with seven runs on three hits in the bottom of the second. Owen McElfatrick scored DH Trent Liolios with a base hit. Jackson Freeman drove in a pair with a two-run double to extend the lead with a double down the right-field line. Bennett Markinson and 1B Tyler Ganus each worked bases-loaded walks to drive in a run. In his second plate appearance of the inning, Liolios doubled down the left-field line to score Markinson and Lausch and extend NU's lead to 10-0.
Ohio State (12-35, 4-23 Big Ten) scored a pair in the top of the third. RF Trey Lipsey notched an RBI double down the right-field line to score 3B Will Carpenter and LF Matthew Graveline grounded out to shortstop, pushing CF Sal Mineo across.
In the bottom of the third, SS Ryan Kucherak hit a solo shot down the left-field line, and CF Jack Lausch homered to center field to score three runs and stretch the Wildcat lead to 13-2.
Pinch-hitting in the bottom of the fifth, graduate student Pirmin Brechbuhl hit his first-career homer, a three-run blast to left field to score Markinson and Ganus and extend NU's lead to 16-2.
Kucherak hit his second homer of the game in the bottom of the sixth, notching his third multi-homer game of the season and recording his 15th homer of the season to move into a tie for second-place in Northwestern single-season history.
LHP Blake MacMillan (5-2) earned the win in 6.2 innings pitched, surrendering two runs on four hits and two walks, striking out three.
Game NotesSenior Day Quality Start ?? pic.twitter.com/c3VnLNftxu
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) May 11, 2025
- The Wildcats claimed a series victory against Ohio State for the first time since 2019.
- Northwestern's 17 runs mark its 11th time scoring double-digit runs this season and eighth time in conference play.
- SS Ryan Kucherak has recorded an RBI in 13 of his last 15 games.
- CF Jack Lausch has logged an RBI in eight of his last nine games.
- LF Preston Knott has scored a run in six straight games.