Northwestern
5-2
Indiana
3-4
'Cats Drop Weekend Finale to Indiana 4-3
2/24/2025 3:25:00 PM | Baseball
CARY, N.C. – Northwestern came up just short in its weekend finale, a 4-3 loss to Indiana on Monday at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary.
Northwestern's (5-2, 0-0 Big Ten) offense started hot, with OF Preston Knott tripling to right center field to lead off the game. Next batter, UTL Tyler Ganus drove him in on a sacrifice fly to put the 'Cats up 1-0.
After holding the Hoosiers (3-4, 0-0 Big Ten) scoreless in the bottom half of the first, the Wildcats continued to add on. INF Owen McElfatrick led off the top of the second inning with a double, coming around to score on an RBI groundout by INF Ryan Kucherak to double NU's advantage early.
Indiana got on the board in the bottom of the fourth. The Hoosiers cut the Northwestern lead to one on an RBI double by INF Jake Hanley before stranding the bases loaded.
In the bottom of the seventh, INF Joey Brenczewski led off the inning with a double and came around to score on a single by OF Korbyn Dickerson, knotting the game at two apiece.
The Hoosiers went ahead in the bottom of the eighth on an infield single by Brenczewski, scoring Hanley to put Indiana up 3-2.
Needing a run in the top of the ninth, Northwestern rallied. After McElfatrick reached on a hit by pitch to lead off the inning, INF Jacob Hand sacrificed him over to second to put him in scoring position. Down to Northwestern's last out, OF Jack Lausch singled to left center field to plate McElfatrick and tie the game at three apiece.
Indiana opened the bottom half of the frame with a single, moved the runner over on a walk, and walked off the game on an RBI single by TJ Schuyler to claim the 4-3 win.
Sam Hliboki started his first game in a Wildcat uniform, surrendering one run on four hits and three walks in 4.0 innings of work. Alex Grant made his second collegiate appearance in relief, allowing one earned run on three hits, one walk, fanning five in 3.0 innings of action. Cole Mascott (0-1) is credited with the loss, giving up one run on two hits in 0.1 innings pitched.
Northwestern will continue non-conference play with a three-game series at No. 17 Duke next weekend. First pitch on Friday is set for 3 p.m. CT, Saturday's game is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT, and Sunday's game is slated for 12 p.m. CT. All three games will be streamed on ACCNX.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Grable, Ben (1-0)
L: Mascott, Cole (0-1)
Batting:
2B: McElfatrick, Owen 1
3B: Knott, Preston 1
RBI: Ganus, Tyler 1 ; Kucherak, Ryan 1 ; Lausch, Jack 1
SH: Hand, Jacob 1 ; Bianchina, Vince 1
SF: Ganus, Tyler 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Knott, Preston 1 ; McElfatrick, Owen 2
SB: McElfatrick, Owen 1
CS: Freeman, Jackson 1
HBP: McElfatrick, Owen 1
Batting:
2B: Brenczewski, Joey 1 ; Hanley, Jake 1
RBI: Brenczewski, Joey 1 ; Dickerson, Korbyn 1 ; Schuyler, T.J. 1 ; Hanley, Jake 1
SH: Cerny, Tyler 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brenczewski, Joey 1 ; Dickerson, Korbyn 1 ; Wiggins, Andrew 1 ; Hanley, Jake 1
