Northwestern
5-7
The Citadel (DH)
9-5
‘Cats Split Saturday Doubleheader at The Citadel
3/8/2025 8:36:00 PM | Baseball
CHARLESTON, S.C. – After falling 5-4 in game one, Northwestern responded to take game two 4-1 in Saturday's doubleheader at The Citadel on Saturday afternoon.
With game one scheduled for seven innings, NU's offense wasted no time, hitting four doubles in the first inning to plate three runs. INF Owen McElfatrick, OF Jackson Freeman, INF Trent Liolios, and C Bennett Markinson all recorded two-baggers to put the 'Cats up 3-0 in the top of the first.
The Citadel got one back in the bottom half on an RBI groundout to trim the lead to 3-1. The Bulldogs tied the game on a two-run single by INF Travis Elliott to even the game at three apiece in the bottom of the second.
Northwestern went back on top in the top of the fourth on a solo home run by Liolios, his third of the season to give NU a 4-3 lead.
The Bulldogs evened the game on a wild pitch and took a 5-4 lead on an RBI groundout by C Phillips Daniels.
RHP Matthew Kouser (2-1) is credited with the loss, allowing five earned runs on eight hits in 5.0 innings pitched, striking out four, walking one, and hitting one batter.
NU's offense grabbed an early lead again in game two, striking first in the top of the second. INF Jack Counsell hit a ground-rule double to left-center, scoring Markinson to draw first blood. Liolios' recorded his third RBI of the day on a sacrifice fly in the top of the third to double the Wildcat lead. In the top of the fourth, Counsell scored Markinson again, this time on an infield single, to push the advantage to 3-0.
The Bulldogs got one back in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by C Garrett Fulmer to cut the deficit to 3-1.
In the top of the eighth, Jackson Freeman doubled to right center, scoring McElfatrick to stretch the Wildcat lead to 4-1 for the game's final run.
RHP Sam Hliboki (1-1) earned the win in his second start of the season, allowing just five hits in 6.0 innings, punching out five.'CATS WIN! ?? pic.twitter.com/8YaHAaZzPX
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) March 8, 2025
LHP Blake MacMillan recorded his second save of the season with 3.0 scoreless innings, surrendering three hits and one hit batsman.
Sunday's series finale is set for 12 p.m. CT on ESPN+. 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 open Big Ten play next weekend with a three-game series against Penn State at Miller Park.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Maddox Webb (2-0)
L: Kouser, Matthew (2-1)
Batting:
2B: McElfatrick, Owen 1 ; Freeman, Jackson 1 ; Liolios, Trent 1 ; Markinson, Bennett 1
HR: Liolios, Trent 1
RBI: Freeman, Jackson 1 ; Liolios, Trent 2 ; Markinson, Bennett 1
Base Running:
RUNS: McElfatrick, Owen 1 ; Freeman, Jackson 1 ; Liolios, Trent 2
CS: Knott, Preston 1
Batting:
3B: Phillips Daniels 1
RBI: Phillips Daniels 1 ; Travis Elliott 3
SH: Aryan Patel 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Phillips Daniels 1 ; Lane Tobin 1 ; TJ Anderson 1 ; Tyler Christmas 1 ; Aryan Patel 1
HBP: Phillips Daniels 1 ; Tyler Christmas 1
