Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, April 7
Evanston, IL
3 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
Illinois
Photo by: GRIFFIN QUINN/Northwestern Athletics
'Cats Host Illini for B1G Home Series
4/6/2023 6:35:00 PM | Baseball
FRIDAY, APRIL 6 - 3:00 P.M.
RHP Riley Gowens (1-2, 6.69) vs. RHP Matt McClure (1-4, 7.15)
SATURDAY, APRIL 7 - 2:00 P.M.
RHP Jake Swartz (0-1, 5.17) vs. RHP Michael Farinelli (1-4, 7.01)
SUNDAY, APRIL 8 - 1:00 P.M.
RHP Jack Wenninger (4-1, 3.74) vs. RHP Luke Benneche (0-3, 10.57)
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern baseball will return to Rocky and Berenice Miller Park for the first homestand of the season this weekend, taking on Illinois in a three-game series. The first pitch between the 'Cats and the Illini is slated for 3 p.m. CT on Friday, and subsequent games will start at 2 p.m. CT Saturday and 1 p.m. CT on Sunday.
Northwestern (3-20, 1-2 Big Ten) will play Illinois (12-13, 2-4 Big Ten) after opening its conference schedule with a trio of games at Purdue, winning one, and falling to Notre Dame on Tuesday. Friday's matchup will be the 265th all-time meeting between the Wildcats and Fighting Illini, with Illinois leading the overall series, 177-86-1. Last season, the 'Cats were swept by Illinois.
On Sunday against the Boilermakers, Michael Farinelli held Purdue to five scoreless innings to start the game. He earned nine strikeouts and allowed just two hits in 6.1 innings of work. Holding onto a 2-1 lead late, Northwestern scored five runs in the eighth inning to break the game wide open. Thanks to a 3-for-4 afternoon from Luke Tanner and a home run from Griffin Arnone, the Wildcats earned their first Big Ten victory of the season over Purdue, winning 7-3.
In the back half of the doubleheader, Northwestern battled back late against the Boilermakers, powered by a seventh-inning homer from Arnone and ninth-inning RBI singles by Alex Calarco and Stephen Hrustich. Despite the rally to send the game to extra innings, Purdue walked it off in the 10th frame to win, 4-3. Two days later, Northwestern was shut out by Notre Dame, 12-0.
Hrustich has led Northwestern so far this season, averaging .318 off his bat while starting 20 games. The captain is first on the team in walks, on-base percentage and stolen bases, and is second in hits and runs. Calarco, the only Wildcat to play in all 23 games, is just under Hrustich in batting average, hitting .314.
Arnone continued his hot streak after hitting a home run in all three contests against Purdue, bringing his season total to a team-leading six. The graduate student also tops the team in runs and RBIs.
After starting the season with a 10-7 record, Illinois has lost six of its last eight. On Tuesday against Illinois State, the Illini jumped out to an early lead before allowing a pair of three-run homers in the second inning. As the Redbirds extended their lead, Illinois kept it close at 10-9 through the sixth, but couldn't regain the lead, eventually falling, 12-9.
Following the weekend series against Illinois, Northwestern will host UIC on Tuesday, starting at 3:30 p.m. CT.
RHP Riley Gowens (1-2, 6.69) vs. RHP Matt McClure (1-4, 7.15)
SATURDAY, APRIL 7 - 2:00 P.M.
RHP Jake Swartz (0-1, 5.17) vs. RHP Michael Farinelli (1-4, 7.01)
SUNDAY, APRIL 8 - 1:00 P.M.
RHP Jack Wenninger (4-1, 3.74) vs. RHP Luke Benneche (0-3, 10.57)
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern baseball will return to Rocky and Berenice Miller Park for the first homestand of the season this weekend, taking on Illinois in a three-game series. The first pitch between the 'Cats and the Illini is slated for 3 p.m. CT on Friday, and subsequent games will start at 2 p.m. CT Saturday and 1 p.m. CT on Sunday.
Northwestern (3-20, 1-2 Big Ten) will play Illinois (12-13, 2-4 Big Ten) after opening its conference schedule with a trio of games at Purdue, winning one, and falling to Notre Dame on Tuesday. Friday's matchup will be the 265th all-time meeting between the Wildcats and Fighting Illini, with Illinois leading the overall series, 177-86-1. Last season, the 'Cats were swept by Illinois.
On Sunday against the Boilermakers, Michael Farinelli held Purdue to five scoreless innings to start the game. He earned nine strikeouts and allowed just two hits in 6.1 innings of work. Holding onto a 2-1 lead late, Northwestern scored five runs in the eighth inning to break the game wide open. Thanks to a 3-for-4 afternoon from Luke Tanner and a home run from Griffin Arnone, the Wildcats earned their first Big Ten victory of the season over Purdue, winning 7-3.
In the back half of the doubleheader, Northwestern battled back late against the Boilermakers, powered by a seventh-inning homer from Arnone and ninth-inning RBI singles by Alex Calarco and Stephen Hrustich. Despite the rally to send the game to extra innings, Purdue walked it off in the 10th frame to win, 4-3. Two days later, Northwestern was shut out by Notre Dame, 12-0.
Hrustich has led Northwestern so far this season, averaging .318 off his bat while starting 20 games. The captain is first on the team in walks, on-base percentage and stolen bases, and is second in hits and runs. Calarco, the only Wildcat to play in all 23 games, is just under Hrustich in batting average, hitting .314.
Arnone continued his hot streak after hitting a home run in all three contests against Purdue, bringing his season total to a team-leading six. The graduate student also tops the team in runs and RBIs.
After starting the season with a 10-7 record, Illinois has lost six of its last eight. On Tuesday against Illinois State, the Illini jumped out to an early lead before allowing a pair of three-run homers in the second inning. As the Redbirds extended their lead, Illinois kept it close at 10-9 through the sixth, but couldn't regain the lead, eventually falling, 12-9.
Following the weekend series against Illinois, Northwestern will host UIC on Tuesday, starting at 3:30 p.m. CT.
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