Tuesday, March 25
Evanston, Ill.
3 p.m. CT
Northwestern
10-12
1
vs
2
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Western Michigan
6-16
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Western Michigan
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
4
0
Northwestern
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
3
2
Northwestern Falls to Western Michigan in Midweek Pitchers' Duel
3/25/2025 7:38:00 PM | Baseball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern fell 2-1 in a pitchers' duel to Western Michigan on Wednesday afternoon at Miller Park.
The Broncos (6-16, 4-5 MAC) went ahead on an RBI double in the top of the third and added another on a sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth to take a 2-0 lead.
INF Owen McElfatrick extended his 16-game reached-base streak in the top of the ninth with a single up the middle, and came around to score on INF Ryan Kucherak's RBI double. With runners on second and third, one out, and the Broncos clinging to a 2-1 lead, RHP DJ Thompson struck out one batter and induced a groundout to shortstop to earn the save and the 2-1 win for WMU.
RHP Adam Lehmann (1-2) got the win for Western Michigan, surrendering just one hit in 3.0 scoreless innings of work, walking one and striking out one.
Northwestern (10-12, 3-3 Big Ten) recorded its fifth game conceding four or fewer hits this season, its most in a single-season since 2019 (five). The loss marks Northwestern's first this season when allowing four or fewer hits (4-1) and three or fewer runs (6-1).
RHP Sam Hliboki (1-2) is credited with the loss, allowing an unearned run on two hits, punching out two batters. RHP Jack Grunkemeyer worked 3.1 scoreless innings in relief, walking three, fanning three, and allowing no hits. RHP Amar Tsengeg tossed 2.0 shutout innings, conceding just one hit.
Northwestern resumes Big Ten play this weekend with a three-game series at Maryland. First pitch on Friday is set for 5 p.m. CT, Saturday's game is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT, and Sunday's finale is slated for 12 p.m. CT.Gallery: (3-25-2025) Baseball vs. Western Michigan
The Broncos (6-16, 4-5 MAC) went ahead on an RBI double in the top of the third and added another on a sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth to take a 2-0 lead.
INF Owen McElfatrick extended his 16-game reached-base streak in the top of the ninth with a single up the middle, and came around to score on INF Ryan Kucherak's RBI double. With runners on second and third, one out, and the Broncos clinging to a 2-1 lead, RHP DJ Thompson struck out one batter and induced a groundout to shortstop to earn the save and the 2-1 win for WMU.
RHP Adam Lehmann (1-2) got the win for Western Michigan, surrendering just one hit in 3.0 scoreless innings of work, walking one and striking out one.
Northwestern (10-12, 3-3 Big Ten) recorded its fifth game conceding four or fewer hits this season, its most in a single-season since 2019 (five). The loss marks Northwestern's first this season when allowing four or fewer hits (4-1) and three or fewer runs (6-1).
RHP Sam Hliboki (1-2) is credited with the loss, allowing an unearned run on two hits, punching out two batters. RHP Jack Grunkemeyer worked 3.1 scoreless innings in relief, walking three, fanning three, and allowing no hits. RHP Amar Tsengeg tossed 2.0 shutout innings, conceding just one hit.
Northwestern resumes Big Ten play this weekend with a three-game series at Maryland. First pitch on Friday is set for 5 p.m. CT, Saturday's game is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT, and Sunday's finale is slated for 12 p.m. CT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: LEHMANN, Adam (1-2)
L: Hliboki, Sam (1-2)
S: THOMPSON, DJ (2)
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Batting:
2B: HARRITY, Brendan 1 ; OSTRANDER, Connor 1
RBI: HARRITY, Brendan 1 ; RICK, Lucas 1
SH: MEE, Grady 1
SF: RICK, Lucas 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MALLY, Tanner 1 ; THIELMAN, Avery 1
SB: MALLY, Tanner 1
HBP: MALLY, Tanner 1 ; NEVAR, Dylan 1 ; HUMS, Cooper 1
Batting:
2B: Kucherak, Ryan 1 ; Liolios, Trent 1
RBI: Kucherak, Ryan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: McElfatrick, Owen 1
SB: McElfatrick, Owen 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
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RHP
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/ Baseball
RHP
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