MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – LHP Ryan Weaver racked up a career-high nine strikeouts, but a late rally by South Dakota State proved costly, as the Jackrabbits escaped with a 5-4 victory in the first game of the 2026 Cambria Classic on Friday at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Weaver's nine strikeouts are the most by a Wildcat pitcher since LHP Crawford Wade punched out nine batters in a 5-1 win over Harvard on Feb. 22, 2025.
South Dakota State (5-8) evened the game with two runs on three hits in the bottom half of the first.
LHP Ryan Weaver settled into the game after that, surrendering just two hits in his remaining five innings of work. Weaver rang up a career-high nine strikeouts in 6.0 innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits and one walk.
INF Owen McElfatrick broke the deadlock in the top of the fourth with his second home run of the season, a solo shot off the batter's eye in center field to go ahead, 3-2. McElfatrick's homer marked the 26th of his career, moving him into a tie for sixth-most in Northwestern history.
The Wildcats tacked on an insurance run in the fifth, plating an unearned run on a Jackrabbits error to extend the lead to two.
South Dakota State tied the game at four with two runs on three hits in the seventh inning. In the eighth, a wild pitch allowed the Jackrabbits to score the go-ahead run, giving them a 5-4 lead.
LHP Justin Fryer (1-1) is credited with the loss, allowing one run on three walks in 1.0 inning pitched.
Northwestern will face Omaha in its second game of the Cambria Classic on Saturday. RHP Garrett Shearer is slated to start on the mound for the Wildcats against RHP Tanner Foertsch for the Mavericks. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. CT on B1G+.
Weaver's nine strikeouts are the most by a Wildcat pitcher since LHP Crawford Wade punched out nine batters in a 5-1 win over Harvard on Feb. 22, 2025.
Northwestern (5-6) jumped out to an early lead, scoring in the first inning for the sixth time in 11 games. OF Jack Lausch led off the game with a double and came around to score when INF Ryan Kucherak followed that up with a double of his own. A sacrifice fly by INF Nick Barron plated Kucherak to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead.Ryan Weaver. DIALED. ??
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) March 6, 2026
9?? strikeouts for the southpaw! ?? pic.twitter.com/e86xxAOukq
South Dakota State (5-8) evened the game with two runs on three hits in the bottom half of the first.
LHP Ryan Weaver settled into the game after that, surrendering just two hits in his remaining five innings of work. Weaver rang up a career-high nine strikeouts in 6.0 innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits and one walk.
INF Owen McElfatrick broke the deadlock in the top of the fourth with his second home run of the season, a solo shot off the batter's eye in center field to go ahead, 3-2. McElfatrick's homer marked the 26th of his career, moving him into a tie for sixth-most in Northwestern history.
The Wildcats tacked on an insurance run in the fifth, plating an unearned run on a Jackrabbits error to extend the lead to two.
South Dakota State tied the game at four with two runs on three hits in the seventh inning. In the eighth, a wild pitch allowed the Jackrabbits to score the go-ahead run, giving them a 5-4 lead.
LHP Justin Fryer (1-1) is credited with the loss, allowing one run on three walks in 1.0 inning pitched.
Northwestern will face Omaha in its second game of the Cambria Classic on Saturday. RHP Garrett Shearer is slated to start on the mound for the Wildcats against RHP Tanner Foertsch for the Mavericks. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. CT on B1G+.