Tuesday, May 13
Evanston, Ill.
3:30 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
Valparaiso
'Cats Close Home Season against Valparaiso
5/12/2025 6:01:00 PM | Baseball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern will host Valparaiso to close out their 2025 home slate on Tuesday, May 13. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed live on B1G+.
Northwestern (23-25, 12-15 Big Ten) won its final home series of the season against Ohio State. The Wildcats won 12-2 on Friday night on a two-run walk-off single from SS Ryan Kucherak at Wrigley Field. After a loss on Saturday, the 'Cats bounced back to run-rule the Buckeyes in Sunday's Senior Day rubber match 17-2.
Northwestern's win at Wrigley Field marked its third win in four tries at the Friendly Confines. Last season, the Wildcats fell to Purdue 9-3 at the iconic ballpark. Playing their first game at Wrigley Field in 10 years, the 'Cats took down Notre Dame 8-7 in an extra-inning thriller in 2023. Then-future Cub Luke Farrell tossed a complete game shutout for the Wildcats in a 6-0 win over Michigan in 2013.
INF Trent Liolios broke the Northwestern single-season home run record with his 16th blast of the season against Butler, surpassing Bob Brucato (1988). Six of Liolios' 16 home runs have come in the eighth inning or later. When Liolios homers, Northwestern is 9-3 and has won six straight games. This season, Liolios is slugging .638 with 16 home runs and 39 runs batted in.
Reigning Big Ten Player of the Week INF Ryan Kucherak had his third multi-homer game of the season with two against Ohio State on Sunday. Kucherak's 15 home runs ranks second on the team behind Trent Liolios, and his 12 home runs in conference play are tied for second in the Big Ten. In conference play, he is slashing .314/.412/.725 with 12 home runs and 26 runs batted in. Kucherak and Liolios became the first Northwestern duo ever to homer at least 15 times in the same season. Kucherak and Liolios are the only Big Ten players with a three-homer game this season.
C Bennett Markinson shined on his Senior Day on Sunday. Markinson went 3-for-3 with four runs batted in and two runs scored, highlighted by a three-run triple. Markinson drove in six runs in the series against Purdue, including four in Friday's win. Markinson has recorded 10 RBI in his last six games.
Northwestern is tied for second in the Big Ten and 23rd nationally in fielding percentage (.978). In 2024, NU led the Big Ten and ranked 10th nationally in fielding percentage (.980).
Graduate Student UTL Tyler Ganus was selected to the Allstate NACDA Good Works Team. The Allstate NACDA Good Works Team is made up of 60 student-athletes (20 per season) across all sanctioned men's and women's college sports and divisions who go above and beyond in volunteerism and civic engagement, complementing their achievements in academics and sports.
Northwestern leads the all-time series against Valparaiso, 24-9. The Wildcats have won the last two meetings, both in Evanston. Last season, Northwestern won 7-2. Valparaiso's last win came on March 30, 2011 at Miller Park.
Valparaiso (8-38, 3-21 MVC) is led by OF Ryan Maka. Maka has started 22 games for the Beacons and is slashing .363/.485/.588 with six homers and 10 RBI. On the pitching staff, RHP Adam Guazzo leads the team in ERA at 4.64.
Following Tuesday's game, Northwestern will hit the road to close out the regular season at UCLA with a three-game series beginning Friday at 6 p.m. CT. All three games will be broadcast on BTN.
Northwestern (23-25, 12-15 Big Ten) won its final home series of the season against Ohio State. The Wildcats won 12-2 on Friday night on a two-run walk-off single from SS Ryan Kucherak at Wrigley Field. After a loss on Saturday, the 'Cats bounced back to run-rule the Buckeyes in Sunday's Senior Day rubber match 17-2.
Northwestern's win at Wrigley Field marked its third win in four tries at the Friendly Confines. Last season, the Wildcats fell to Purdue 9-3 at the iconic ballpark. Playing their first game at Wrigley Field in 10 years, the 'Cats took down Notre Dame 8-7 in an extra-inning thriller in 2023. Then-future Cub Luke Farrell tossed a complete game shutout for the Wildcats in a 6-0 win over Michigan in 2013.
INF Trent Liolios broke the Northwestern single-season home run record with his 16th blast of the season against Butler, surpassing Bob Brucato (1988). Six of Liolios' 16 home runs have come in the eighth inning or later. When Liolios homers, Northwestern is 9-3 and has won six straight games. This season, Liolios is slugging .638 with 16 home runs and 39 runs batted in.
Reigning Big Ten Player of the Week INF Ryan Kucherak had his third multi-homer game of the season with two against Ohio State on Sunday. Kucherak's 15 home runs ranks second on the team behind Trent Liolios, and his 12 home runs in conference play are tied for second in the Big Ten. In conference play, he is slashing .314/.412/.725 with 12 home runs and 26 runs batted in. Kucherak and Liolios became the first Northwestern duo ever to homer at least 15 times in the same season. Kucherak and Liolios are the only Big Ten players with a three-homer game this season.
Against Northern Illinois on April 15, INF Owen McElfatrick became the fifth different Wildcat to log a multi-homer game this season, joining Trent Liolios (2/15 at Long Beach State, 3/15 G2 vs. Penn State, and 3/28 at Maryland), Bennett Markinson (2/23 G2 at Fordham), Ryan Kucherak (3/21 G2 vs. Illinois, 4/18 at Nebraska, 5/11 vs. Ohio State), and Jack Lausch (3/30 at Maryland). NU is the only Big Ten team with five different players with a multi-homer game this season.Big Ten Player of the Week ??@Ryankucherak earns @B1Gbaseball honors after a standout weekend against Ohio State! pic.twitter.com/WLZjn7auG7
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) May 12, 2025
C Bennett Markinson shined on his Senior Day on Sunday. Markinson went 3-for-3 with four runs batted in and two runs scored, highlighted by a three-run triple. Markinson drove in six runs in the series against Purdue, including four in Friday's win. Markinson has recorded 10 RBI in his last six games.
Northwestern is tied for second in the Big Ten and 23rd nationally in fielding percentage (.978). In 2024, NU led the Big Ten and ranked 10th nationally in fielding percentage (.980).
Graduate Student UTL Tyler Ganus was selected to the Allstate NACDA Good Works Team. The Allstate NACDA Good Works Team is made up of 60 student-athletes (20 per season) across all sanctioned men's and women's college sports and divisions who go above and beyond in volunteerism and civic engagement, complementing their achievements in academics and sports.
Northwestern leads the all-time series against Valparaiso, 24-9. The Wildcats have won the last two meetings, both in Evanston. Last season, Northwestern won 7-2. Valparaiso's last win came on March 30, 2011 at Miller Park.
Valparaiso (8-38, 3-21 MVC) is led by OF Ryan Maka. Maka has started 22 games for the Beacons and is slashing .363/.485/.588 with six homers and 10 RBI. On the pitching staff, RHP Adam Guazzo leads the team in ERA at 4.64.
Following Tuesday's game, Northwestern will hit the road to close out the regular season at UCLA with a three-game series beginning Friday at 6 p.m. CT. All three games will be broadcast on BTN.
Players Mentioned
UTL
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
C/1B
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballBaseball - 'Cats Take Down No. 14 UCLA, 9-4 (5/15/25)
Friday, May 16
Baseball - Wildcats Top Beacons, 12-4 (5/13/25)
Wednesday, May 14
Baseball - Northwestern Run-Rules Ohio State to Secure Series (5/11/25)
Sunday, May 11
Baseball - Wildcats Run-Rule Buckeyes at Wrigley Field (5/9/25)
Saturday, May 10
