Friday, March 7
Charleston, S.C.
2 p.m. CT
Northwestern
at
The Citadel
Photo by: Andy Mead/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Heads to Charleston for Four-Game Series at The Citadel
3/6/2025 1:34:00 PM | Baseball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern closes out its early season non-conference road swing when it travels to The Citadel for a four-game series this weekend.
Probable Pitchers
Friday, 3/7: The Citadel – LHP Will Holmes vs. NU – LHP Crawford Wade
Saturday, 3/8 (G1): The Citadel – RHP George Derrick Floyd vs. NU – RHP Matthew Kouser
Saturday, 3/8 (G2): The Citadel – TBA vs. NU – TBA
Sunday, 3/9: The Citadel – RHP Ben Brash vs. NU – TBA
First pitch from Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park is set for 2 p.m. CT on Friday. Saturday will feature a doubleheader with game one scheduled for 12 p.m. CT and game two set to start at 3:30 p.m. CT. Sunday's finale is slated for 12 p.m. CT. All four games will be streamed on ESPN+.
Five different Wildcats have hit a home run over the first 10 games, with Bennett Markinson pacing all 'Cats with three. Northwestern is 5-1 in games that it has hit at least one home run this season.
INF Jack Counsell had a standout weekend at No. 17 Duke, going 4-for-8 with two doubles, two RBI, two runs, and a walk in three games. Counsell's first RBI and run in Friday's game marked his first in a Wildcat uniform.
OF Preston Knott slugged a home run and a pair of doubles over three games at No. 17 Duke. Knott has now reached in all 10 contests this season while manning the leadoff spot in every game. The senior from Arlington, Texas has posted a .362 on-base percentage and a .487 slugging percentage on the campaign.
OF Jackson Freeman also homered in Saturday's contest against the Blue Devils, his first of the season. Freeman hit 11 homers for NU in 2024, leading the squad and setting a program record for most home runs by a Wildcats first-year.
LHP Blake MacMillan continued his strong start to 2025 with 3.1 scoreless innings at No. 17 Duke, striking out four and allowing just one hit and one walk. The graduate transfer leads the Big Ten and ranks ninth nationally in Batting Average Against, with opponents hitting just .074 against the Mississauga, Ontario native.
After an outstanding debut in a 4-3 win at Long Beach State, RHP Matthew Kouser was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Monday, February 17. Kouser earned the win in his first collegiate start, surrendering just one earned run on two hits, four walks, and one hit by pitch in 6.0 IP. Against Fordham, Kouser earned the win in 6.0 innings pitched, allowing three runs on eight hits and one walk, striking out three. At No. 17 Duke, Kouser continued his streak of solid starts, allowing four hits and three earned runs across 5.0 innings pitched, punching out two.
The Citadel enters the weekend with a 7-5 record. Will Holmes has led the Bulldogs' pitching staff with a dominant start to the season, posting a 2-0 record with an ERA of 0.56 across 16 innings of work in three starts.
After the weekend, Northwestern will return home for an eight-game homestand. Northwestern's home opener is set for Tuesday, March 11 at 3:30 p.m. CT against Illinois State on B1G+. The 'Cats will remain in Evanston next weekend to open Big Ten play with a three-game series against Penn State.
Probable Pitchers
Friday, 3/7: The Citadel – LHP Will Holmes vs. NU – LHP Crawford Wade
Saturday, 3/8 (G1): The Citadel – RHP George Derrick Floyd vs. NU – RHP Matthew Kouser
Saturday, 3/8 (G2): The Citadel – TBA vs. NU – TBA
Sunday, 3/9: The Citadel – RHP Ben Brash vs. NU – TBA
First pitch from Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park is set for 2 p.m. CT on Friday. Saturday will feature a doubleheader with game one scheduled for 12 p.m. CT and game two set to start at 3:30 p.m. CT. Sunday's finale is slated for 12 p.m. CT. All four games will be streamed on ESPN+.
Five different Wildcats have hit a home run over the first 10 games, with Bennett Markinson pacing all 'Cats with three. Northwestern is 5-1 in games that it has hit at least one home run this season.
INF Jack Counsell had a standout weekend at No. 17 Duke, going 4-for-8 with two doubles, two RBI, two runs, and a walk in three games. Counsell's first RBI and run in Friday's game marked his first in a Wildcat uniform.
OF Preston Knott slugged a home run and a pair of doubles over three games at No. 17 Duke. Knott has now reached in all 10 contests this season while manning the leadoff spot in every game. The senior from Arlington, Texas has posted a .362 on-base percentage and a .487 slugging percentage on the campaign.
OF Jackson Freeman also homered in Saturday's contest against the Blue Devils, his first of the season. Freeman hit 11 homers for NU in 2024, leading the squad and setting a program record for most home runs by a Wildcats first-year.
LHP Blake MacMillan continued his strong start to 2025 with 3.1 scoreless innings at No. 17 Duke, striking out four and allowing just one hit and one walk. The graduate transfer leads the Big Ten and ranks ninth nationally in Batting Average Against, with opponents hitting just .074 against the Mississauga, Ontario native.
After an outstanding debut in a 4-3 win at Long Beach State, RHP Matthew Kouser was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Monday, February 17. Kouser earned the win in his first collegiate start, surrendering just one earned run on two hits, four walks, and one hit by pitch in 6.0 IP. Against Fordham, Kouser earned the win in 6.0 innings pitched, allowing three runs on eight hits and one walk, striking out three. At No. 17 Duke, Kouser continued his streak of solid starts, allowing four hits and three earned runs across 5.0 innings pitched, punching out two.
The Citadel enters the weekend with a 7-5 record. Will Holmes has led the Bulldogs' pitching staff with a dominant start to the season, posting a 2-0 record with an ERA of 0.56 across 16 innings of work in three starts.
After the weekend, Northwestern will return home for an eight-game homestand. Northwestern's home opener is set for Tuesday, March 11 at 3:30 p.m. CT against Illinois State on B1G+. The 'Cats will remain in Evanston next weekend to open Big Ten play with a three-game series against Penn State.
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