Hand's Homer Walks off Flames

EVANSTON, Ill. – Jacob Hand's first home run in a Wildcat uniform walked off UIC 7-6 on Tuesday afternoon at Miller Park.

HAND. HERO. 'CATS WIN! pic.twitter.com/gpS4mjq4uy
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) April 22, 2025

The win secured the season series for the Wildcats over the Flames, taking two out of three games against UIC this season. Northwestern improves to 8-4 in one-run games this year, its most one-run wins since 2017.

UIC (11-27, 7-8 Missouri Valley) struck first with a pair in the top of the first. RF Lucas Smith led off with a double down the right-field line and came around to score on C Thomas Curry's double for the first run of the game. UIC added another later in the inning when CF Terrick Thompson-Allen singled through the left side, scoring DH Jackson Bessette to double the lead.

Northwestern (18-20, 8-10 Big Ten) got one run back in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly to left field by CF Jack Lausch, scoring SS Ryan Kucherak to trim the deficit.

The Flames retook the lead in the top of the fifth on a bases-loaded hit by pitch in the top of the fifth, scoring one to go ahead 3-2. Next batter, RHP Jack Grunkemeyer responded to induce a double play to limit the Flames to one run.

The 'Cats plated a pair in the bottom of the second to go back in front. After Kucherak led off the inning with a double, Markinson plated him with an RBI single to even the score at three. An RBI groundout by LF Griffin Mills scored Markinson to put NU back on top.

In the bottom of the seventh, Kucherak hit his 10th home run of the season, a two-run shot to left field to extend the lead to 6-3. Kucherak's RBI extended his streak of games with an RBI to five.

UIC added three runs on four hits and a walk to tie the game at six in the top of the eighth

Hand walked off the Flames in the bottom of the ninth with a solo home run to left, his first in a Wildcat uniform to give the Wildcats the 7-6 win. The home run is Hand's first at the Division I level after four years at Division III WPI (Mass.).

JACOB HAND WALKS IT OFF! 'CATS WIN! pic.twitter.com/enVRSUJCDV
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) April 22, 2025

RHP Ethan Borggren (1-0) earned the win in 3.0 innings pitched, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk, fanning one.

Game Notes

Ryan Kucherak went 2-for-2 with a home run, a double, three RBI, two runs, and two HBPs.
Owen McElfatrick notched his team-high 13th multi-hit game of the season, going 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, two runs, and one RBI.
Ethan Borggren becomes the fourth different Wildcat first-year to earn a win this season.

Northwestern will resume Big Ten play with a three-game series against Washington from April 25 - April 27. First pitch on Friday is set for 3 p.m. CT, with Saturday and Sunday's games scheduled for 1 p.m. CT. All three games will be broadcast on B1G+.

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Team Stats

Owen McElfatrick

Ryan Kucherak

Jackson Freeman

Bennett Markinson

Players Mentioned

Ethan Borggren

Jack Grunkemeyer

Jacob Hand

Ryan Kucherak

Jack Lausch

Owen McElfatrick

Griffin Mills

Northwestern University Athletics