Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, April 14
Lincoln, NE
3:05 p.m. CT
Northwestern
at
Nebraska
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Wildcats Visit Huskers for Weekend Series
4/13/2023 4:18:00 PM | Baseball
FRIDAY, APRIL 14 - 3:05 P.M.
RHP Matt McClure (1-4, 6.53) vs. LHP Emmett Olson (5-1, 3.04)
SATURDAY, APRIL 15 - 2:05 P.M.
RHP Michael Farinelli (1-5, 6.98) vs. LHP Jackson Brockett (1-0, 3.27)
SUNDAY, APRIL 16 - 12:00 P.M.
RHP Luke Benneche (0-3, 9.28) vs. TBD
LINCOLN, Neb. – Northwestern baseball will hit the road this weekend for its second trip away from home of Big Ten play, taking on Nebraska in a three-game series. The first pitch between the 'Cats and the Cornhuskers is slated for 3:05 p.m. CT on Friday, and subsequent games will start at 2:05 p.m. CT Saturday and 12 p.m. CT on Sunday.
Northwestern (5-22, 3-3 Big Ten) will play Nebraska (18-11-1, 4-2 Big Ten) after winning its first conference series of the season against Illinois last weekend. Friday's matchup will be the 27th all-time meeting between the Wildcats and Cornhuskers, with Nebraska leading the overall series, 14-12. The two teams last played in 2021, when the Cornhuskers took two games before the third was canceled.
The Wildcats kicked off last weekend with a strong start from Matt McClure, who allowed just five hits and two runs over six innings on Friday. The Illini held a 3-1 lead entering the ninth, but an Evan Minarovic single, a walk and a hit-by-pitch put the Wildcats in prime scoring position with just one out. Alex Roessner grounded out to score one runner, then Owen McElfatrick walked to load the bases again. Heroics from Cooper Foard completed the comeback, as the graduate student walked off the Illini with a game-winning single down the left field line to win, 4-3.
Two days later, the 'Cats found themselves in another tightly contested match against Illinois. Entering the eighth inning Sunday, both sides were even with four runs apiece. With two outs and runners on the corners, McElfatrick launched a home run deep to left field, making the difference in Northwestern's 7-4 win that eventually clinched the 'Cats' first series victory of the season.
Stephen Hrustich has led Northwestern so far this season, averaging .341 off his bat while starting 24 games. The captain is first on the team in walks, on-base percentage, runs and stolen bases, and is second in hits and RBIs. Alex Calarco, the only Wildcat to play in all 27 games, is just under Hrustich in batting average, hitting .307.
Nebraska enters the weekend with a 4-2 record in conference play, having defeated both Illinois and Michigan, 2-1, in three-game series. Most recently, the Cornhuskers fell 6-5 in 10 innings to Omaha on Tuesday. Nebraska was down 5-0 early, but came back to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth before eventually losing in extras.
Following the weekend series against Nebraska, Northwestern will travel to DeKalb, Illinois to take on Northern Illinois on Tuesday, starting at 3:30 p.m. CT.
RHP Matt McClure (1-4, 6.53) vs. LHP Emmett Olson (5-1, 3.04)
SATURDAY, APRIL 15 - 2:05 P.M.
RHP Michael Farinelli (1-5, 6.98) vs. LHP Jackson Brockett (1-0, 3.27)
SUNDAY, APRIL 16 - 12:00 P.M.
RHP Luke Benneche (0-3, 9.28) vs. TBD
LINCOLN, Neb. – Northwestern baseball will hit the road this weekend for its second trip away from home of Big Ten play, taking on Nebraska in a three-game series. The first pitch between the 'Cats and the Cornhuskers is slated for 3:05 p.m. CT on Friday, and subsequent games will start at 2:05 p.m. CT Saturday and 12 p.m. CT on Sunday.
Northwestern (5-22, 3-3 Big Ten) will play Nebraska (18-11-1, 4-2 Big Ten) after winning its first conference series of the season against Illinois last weekend. Friday's matchup will be the 27th all-time meeting between the Wildcats and Cornhuskers, with Nebraska leading the overall series, 14-12. The two teams last played in 2021, when the Cornhuskers took two games before the third was canceled.
The Wildcats kicked off last weekend with a strong start from Matt McClure, who allowed just five hits and two runs over six innings on Friday. The Illini held a 3-1 lead entering the ninth, but an Evan Minarovic single, a walk and a hit-by-pitch put the Wildcats in prime scoring position with just one out. Alex Roessner grounded out to score one runner, then Owen McElfatrick walked to load the bases again. Heroics from Cooper Foard completed the comeback, as the graduate student walked off the Illini with a game-winning single down the left field line to win, 4-3.
Two days later, the 'Cats found themselves in another tightly contested match against Illinois. Entering the eighth inning Sunday, both sides were even with four runs apiece. With two outs and runners on the corners, McElfatrick launched a home run deep to left field, making the difference in Northwestern's 7-4 win that eventually clinched the 'Cats' first series victory of the season.
Stephen Hrustich has led Northwestern so far this season, averaging .341 off his bat while starting 24 games. The captain is first on the team in walks, on-base percentage, runs and stolen bases, and is second in hits and RBIs. Alex Calarco, the only Wildcat to play in all 27 games, is just under Hrustich in batting average, hitting .307.
Nebraska enters the weekend with a 4-2 record in conference play, having defeated both Illinois and Michigan, 2-1, in three-game series. Most recently, the Cornhuskers fell 6-5 in 10 innings to Omaha on Tuesday. Nebraska was down 5-0 early, but came back to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth before eventually losing in extras.
Following the weekend series against Nebraska, Northwestern will travel to DeKalb, Illinois to take on Northern Illinois on Tuesday, starting at 3:30 p.m. CT.
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