Northwestern
14-15, 6-6
Iowa
20-10, 12-3
Northwestern Walks off Iowa in Back-and-Forth Series Finale
4/6/2025 6:50:00 PM | Baseball
Northwestern (14-15, 6-6 Big Ten) grabbed an early lead, putting up three runs on two extra-base hits in the bottom of the third. After a pair of singles by C Bennett Markinson and LF Preston Knott, 3B Owen McElfatrick double down the left-field lined down the left field line to score Markinson. Next batter, CF Jackson Freeman followed that up with a two-run double of his ownoff the right-center wall to extend the Wildcat lead to 3-0.CARDIAC 'CATS! ?? pic.twitter.com/JoLjJOlQYr
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) April 6, 2025
Iowa (20-10, 12-3 Big Ten) put runners on second and third with one out in the top of the fourth, but RHP Matthew Kouser induced a groundout and a flyout to limit the Hawkeyes to one run and preserve the Wildcat lead. The Hawkeyes tied the game at three with two runs on two hits and a walk in the top of the sixth.
In the bottom of the eighth, 1B Trent Liolios slugged his 14th home run of the season, most in the Big Ten and second-most in a single-season in program history to put the Wildcats ahead. Six of Liolios' 14 home runs have come in the eighth inning or later.
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, an RBI double by Iowa 1B Blake Guerin knotted the game at four apiece.
LF Preston Knott reached on a hit by pitch in the bottom of the ninth and came around to score on a walk-off hit by SS Ryan Kucherak, giving the 'Cats a 5-4 win and snapping Iowa's 10-game Big Ten win streak. The walk-off hit is Kucherak's second of the season after the sophomore walked off Illinois on Friday, March 21.
RHP Matthew Kouser allowed just one run in 5.0 innings, surrendering five hits, two walks, and one hit batsman, while striking out three. The first-year from Haddonfield, N.J. stranded seven Hawkeyes, including three in scoring position. LHP Blake MacMillan (4-0) earned the win in relief, allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks, fanning two in 4.0 innings pitched.WALKOFF WINNER! 'CATS WIN! pic.twitter.com/XmStVQsP0G
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) April 6, 2025
LHP Benjamin DeTaeye (0-3) is credited with the loss, allowing one earned run on a walk and a hit by pitch in 0.2 innings of work.
Northwestern will travel to Notre Dame for a midweek contest on Tuesday, April 8 before heading to East Lansing for a three-game series at Michigan State.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: MacMillan, Blake (4-0)
L: Ben DeTaeye (0-3)
Batting:
2B: Blake Guerin 1 ; Jackson Beaman 1 ; Kooper Schulte 1
RBI: Ben Wilmes 1 ; Blake Guerin 1 ; Kooper Schulte 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Miles Risley 1 ; Ben Swails 1 ; Jackson Beaman 1 ; Kooper Schulte 1
HBP: Ben Wilmes 1
Batting:
2B: McElfatrick, Owen 1 ; Freeman, Jackson 1
HR: Liolios, Trent 1
RBI: McElfatrick, Owen 1 ; Freeman, Jackson 2 ; Liolios, Trent 1 ; Kucherak, Ryan 1
SH: Markinson, Bennett 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Knott, Preston 2 ; McElfatrick, Owen 1 ; Liolios, Trent 1 ; Markinson, Bennett 1
HBP: Knott, Preston 1 ; Carlson, Zach 1
