Freeman's Four RBI Propels NU past Panthers

Tuesday, May 7

Evanston, Ill.

3:30 p.m. CT

Northwestern

14-30

Eastern Illinois

15-29

Eastern Illinois

Northwestern

Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics

Freeman's Four RBI Propels NU past Panthers

5/7/2024 10:38:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

EVANSTON, Ill. – First-year Jackson Freeman went 2-for-4, driving in four runs in a 9-7 win over Eastern Illinois on Tuesday evening at Rocky and Berenice Miller Park.

Northwestern (14-30) drew first blood in the top of the second on a Drewbie Pinkston safety squeeze, scoring Trent Liolios for the first run of the game. Later in the inning, Preston Knott's double scored Tony Livermore to double the Wildcat lead.

Eastern Illinois (15-29) got on the board in the third on an RBI fielder's choice and took a 4-2 lead with a three-run home run off the bat of Lucas Loos.

Bennett Markinson's solo shot in the bottom half of the frame, his fifth of the year, cut the Panther lead in half.

BARK BLAST! ?? pic.twitter.com/Lgg8zVzUOm
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) May 7, 2024

In the bottom of the fourth, Owen McElfatrick drove in a pair with a double to right center, putting NU back up 5-4. Jackson Freeman gave the Wildcats some insurance, driving in McElfatrick to add onto the lead.

EIU knotted the game at six apiece in the top of the sixth with a two-run home run by Trenton Pallas.

In the Northwestern half of the sixth, Freeman came up clutch yet again, this time with a two-RBI triple, scoring Markinson and Knott to put the 'Cats ahead for good.

Eastern Illinois got one back in the top of the eighth, trimming the gap to 8-7, before Jackson Freeman drove in his fourth run of the game in the bottom of the eighth with another safety squeeze, putting NU up 9-7.

Peter Michael came on to face one batter in the top of the ninth, recording a strikeout, before making way for Jack Dyke. Dyke induced a flyout and a groundout to close the game out, earning his second save of the season.

Gallery: (5-7-2024) Baseball vs. Eastern Illinois

Amar Tsengeg (2-2) is credited with the win, surrendering one run on three hits in 3.0 innings pitched, walking two and fanning four.

Lukas Touma (1-2) is credited with the loss, allowing one run on zero hits in 1.2 innings pitched.

Northwestern is back in action tomorrow at Miller Park, hosting Milwaukee at 3:30 p.m. CT on B1G+.