EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern eclipsed the double-digit run mark for the ninth time this season, plating six runs in the second inning en route to an 11-6 victory over Bradley at Miller Park on Tuesday afternoon.
The Wildcats (15-21-1, 5-13 Big Ten) hit three homers in the win, improving to 8-1 when homering three or more times on the season.
INF Ryan Kucherak and OF Jack Lausch both posted three-hit efforts and slugged their team-high ninth homers of the season. Kucherak's three runs batted in in the contest make 30 on the season for the shortstop, the most by a Wildcat this season.
Bradley (8-33, 4-11 Missouri Valley) took the lead in the top of the third, scratching across three runs for a 3-2 lead.
The Wildcats went back ahead for good in the bottom of the second, scoring six runs on five hits, a walk and a hit by pitch to go ahead 8-3. After OF Logan de Groot scored on a wild pitch to even the score, Lausch put the 'Cats ahead on a two-run single. Kucherak capped off the scoring in the frame with a three-run homer, giving NU a six-run lead.
NU added on in the bottom of the third when INF Owen McElfatrick drove in de Groot on an RBI single to put the 'Cats ahead 9-3.
The Braves and 'Cats tallied one run in each of the fifth and sixth innings, and Bradley pushed a run across in the top of the ninth before LHP Alex Grant (1-0) closed the game out for an 11-6 Wildcat victory. Grant allowed just one run on one hit in 3.2 innings, striking out four.
NU returns to action at Miller Park on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. CT, when it hosts St. Thomas.
The Wildcats (15-21-1, 5-13 Big Ten) hit three homers in the win, improving to 8-1 when homering three or more times on the season.
INF Ryan Kucherak and OF Jack Lausch both posted three-hit efforts and slugged their team-high ninth homers of the season. Kucherak's three runs batted in in the contest make 30 on the season for the shortstop, the most by a Wildcat this season.
OF Jackson Freeman put the 'Cats ahead in the bottom of the first on a two-run home run, his eighth blast of the year.'CATS WIN! ?? pic.twitter.com/vRLzVdAr16
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) April 22, 2026
Bradley (8-33, 4-11 Missouri Valley) took the lead in the top of the third, scratching across three runs for a 3-2 lead.
The Wildcats went back ahead for good in the bottom of the second, scoring six runs on five hits, a walk and a hit by pitch to go ahead 8-3. After OF Logan de Groot scored on a wild pitch to even the score, Lausch put the 'Cats ahead on a two-run single. Kucherak capped off the scoring in the frame with a three-run homer, giving NU a six-run lead.
NU added on in the bottom of the third when INF Owen McElfatrick drove in de Groot on an RBI single to put the 'Cats ahead 9-3.
The Braves and 'Cats tallied one run in each of the fifth and sixth innings, and Bradley pushed a run across in the top of the ninth before LHP Alex Grant (1-0) closed the game out for an 11-6 Wildcat victory. Grant allowed just one run on one hit in 3.2 innings, striking out four.
NU returns to action at Miller Park on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. CT, when it hosts St. Thomas.