CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – OF Jack Lausch slugged his team-high 14th home run of the season as Northwestern fell 10-3 in its series finale at Illinois Field on Sunday afternoon.
Illinois (27-23, 13-14 Big Ten) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first, added two in the second, one in the third, two in the fourth and one in the eighth.
Lausch put the 'Cats (20-28-1, 7-20 Big Ten) on the board with a solo shot to center field in the sixth. Lausch's 14 home runs in 2026 are tied for fourth-most in a single season in program history.
In the top of the ninth, NU added two runs on RBI singles by INF Jake Yang and INF Nick Barron.
RHP Sam Hliboki (4-4) is credited with the loss, allowing four runs on three hits in 1.0 inning of work. RHP Garrett Shearer tossed 4.0 solid innings in relief, surrendering one unearned run on four hits, issuing one walk and striking out a pair.
Northwestern will close out regular season play next weekend with a three-game series against Rutgers at Miller Park from Thursday, May 14, to Saturday, May 16.
Illinois (27-23, 13-14 Big Ten) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first, added two in the second, one in the third, two in the fourth and one in the eighth.
Lausch put the 'Cats (20-28-1, 7-20 Big Ten) on the board with a solo shot to center field in the sixth. Lausch's 14 home runs in 2026 are tied for fourth-most in a single season in program history.
In the top of the ninth, NU added two runs on RBI singles by INF Jake Yang and INF Nick Barron.
RHP Sam Hliboki (4-4) is credited with the loss, allowing four runs on three hits in 1.0 inning of work. RHP Garrett Shearer tossed 4.0 solid innings in relief, surrendering one unearned run on four hits, issuing one walk and striking out a pair.
Northwestern will close out regular season play next weekend with a three-game series against Rutgers at Miller Park from Thursday, May 14, to Saturday, May 16.