Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, May 19
Evanston, IL
4 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
Iowa
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
'Cats Host Hawkeyes for Regular Season Finale
5/17/2023 6:42:00 PM | Baseball
THURSDAY, MAY 18 - 4:00 P.M.
RHP Michael Farinelli (1-9, 9.12) vs. RHP Marcus Morgan (4-2, 4.47)
FRIDAY, MAY 19 - 4:00 P.M.
LHP Sam Garewal (0-4, 5.93) vs. RHP Ty Langenberg (5-3, 4.35)
SATURDAY, MAY 20 - 1:00 P.M.
TBD vs. RHP Brody Brecht (4-2, 4.10)
EVANSTON, Ill. – Coming off a walk-off win at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, Northwestern baseball returns to Evanston to host the Iowa Hawkeyes for their final three-game series of the 2023 season. The set will begin on Thursday with a 4:00 p.m. first pitch and will continue at 4:00 on Friday and 1:00 on Saturday.
Northwestern (9-38, 3-18 B1G) hopes to carry Tuesday's momentum into the series against Iowa (37-12, 13-7 B1G), who currently sits in third place in the conference standings. Thursday will mark the 246th meeting between the two programs and the first since 2021. The Hawkeyes hold a 138-107 advantage over the Wildcats in the all-time series, but the 'Cats picked up two of three at Miller Park the last time they matched up with Iowa.
While Saturday's starter is still to be announced, the 'Cats will kick off the series with Michael Farinelli on Thursday and Sam Garewal on Friday. On his senior weekend, Farinelli will make his 13th start of the season for the 'Cats. It will be his third straight start in a series opener.
Garewal will follow on Friday, coming off his two most effective starts of the year. Against Indiana, Garewal pitched 6.1 shutout innings in a quality start, limiting the Hoosiers to just four hits while striking out seven. The first year followed up with a 5.1-inning, ten-strikeouts start last Saturday in Michigan. The ten K's were not only a career high for Garewal, but also the most by any Wildcat pitcher in an outing this season.
Leading the offense recently has been Stephen Hrustich, who enters this weekend's action on a four-game hitting streak. Beginning with the opener in Michigan, the senior has gone nine for his last 17, good for a batting average of .529 during that span. Each of the four games has been a multi-hit effort for Hrustich and he's knocked at least one extra-base hit in all four as well. His .331 season average still leads the team, and his recent power-surge has made him the team leader in nearly every offensive category, including runs (31), hits (52) and RBI (31).
Another of Tuesday's heroes, Kevin Ferrer, also comes into the weekend hot. Ferrer hit a game-tying home run at Wrigley Field on Tuesday - one of four hits on the evening for the grad student. With that performance in the books, Ferrer has logged eight hits and eight RBI in his last three games alone. He has doubled, homered twice and scored four runs in that three-game period.
Ferrer, Hrustich and Farinelli will all be honored along with ten of their teammates on Saturday as Northwestern baseball recognizes 13 seniors ahead of the season's final matchup. Senior day festivities will include a pregame ceremony which is set to begin at 12:30.
RHP Michael Farinelli (1-9, 9.12) vs. RHP Marcus Morgan (4-2, 4.47)
FRIDAY, MAY 19 - 4:00 P.M.
LHP Sam Garewal (0-4, 5.93) vs. RHP Ty Langenberg (5-3, 4.35)
SATURDAY, MAY 20 - 1:00 P.M.
TBD vs. RHP Brody Brecht (4-2, 4.10)
EVANSTON, Ill. – Coming off a walk-off win at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, Northwestern baseball returns to Evanston to host the Iowa Hawkeyes for their final three-game series of the 2023 season. The set will begin on Thursday with a 4:00 p.m. first pitch and will continue at 4:00 on Friday and 1:00 on Saturday.
Northwestern (9-38, 3-18 B1G) hopes to carry Tuesday's momentum into the series against Iowa (37-12, 13-7 B1G), who currently sits in third place in the conference standings. Thursday will mark the 246th meeting between the two programs and the first since 2021. The Hawkeyes hold a 138-107 advantage over the Wildcats in the all-time series, but the 'Cats picked up two of three at Miller Park the last time they matched up with Iowa.
While Saturday's starter is still to be announced, the 'Cats will kick off the series with Michael Farinelli on Thursday and Sam Garewal on Friday. On his senior weekend, Farinelli will make his 13th start of the season for the 'Cats. It will be his third straight start in a series opener.
Garewal will follow on Friday, coming off his two most effective starts of the year. Against Indiana, Garewal pitched 6.1 shutout innings in a quality start, limiting the Hoosiers to just four hits while striking out seven. The first year followed up with a 5.1-inning, ten-strikeouts start last Saturday in Michigan. The ten K's were not only a career high for Garewal, but also the most by any Wildcat pitcher in an outing this season.
Leading the offense recently has been Stephen Hrustich, who enters this weekend's action on a four-game hitting streak. Beginning with the opener in Michigan, the senior has gone nine for his last 17, good for a batting average of .529 during that span. Each of the four games has been a multi-hit effort for Hrustich and he's knocked at least one extra-base hit in all four as well. His .331 season average still leads the team, and his recent power-surge has made him the team leader in nearly every offensive category, including runs (31), hits (52) and RBI (31).
Another of Tuesday's heroes, Kevin Ferrer, also comes into the weekend hot. Ferrer hit a game-tying home run at Wrigley Field on Tuesday - one of four hits on the evening for the grad student. With that performance in the books, Ferrer has logged eight hits and eight RBI in his last three games alone. He has doubled, homered twice and scored four runs in that three-game period.
Ferrer, Hrustich and Farinelli will all be honored along with ten of their teammates on Saturday as Northwestern baseball recognizes 13 seniors ahead of the season's final matchup. Senior day festivities will include a pregame ceremony which is set to begin at 12:30.
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
INF/OF
/ BaseballBaseball - 'Cats Even Series with 7-6 Victory over Rutgers (5/15/26)
Friday, May 15
Baseball - 'Cats Ground Redbirds in 7-1 Midweek Victory (5/5/26)
Tuesday, May 05
Baseball - 'Cats Take Series with 9-6 Victory over Hoosiers (5/3/26)
Sunday, May 03
Baseball - 'Cats Even Series with 7-4 Victory over Indiana (5/2/26)
Saturday, May 02
