Northwestern University Athletics

Friday, February 27
Atlanta, Ga.
3 p.m. CT

Northwestern

5-3

3
at
17

Georgia Tech

9-1

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5
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7
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H
E
Northwestern
2
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8
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Georgia Tech
2
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17
14
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Northwestern Baseball

'Cats Drop Series Opener to No. 5 Yellow Jackets

2/27/2026 6:05:00 PM | Baseball

ATLANTA – Northwestern had its five-game winning streak snapped, falling 17-3 to No. 5 Georgia Tech in seven innings on Friday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium.

INF Ryan Kucherak matched his career high with three RBI, going 2-for-4 with a home run and a double. Most recently, Kucherak drove in three runs in a 9-4 win at No. 14 UCLA on May 15, 2025.

Northwestern (5-3) opened the scoring on Kucherak's first homer of the season, a two-run shot in the top of the first to score OF Jack Lausch and give NU a 2-0 lead. Georgia Tech (9-1) evened the game at two apiece in the bottom of the first. In the bottom of the second, the Yellow Jackets broke the game open with seven runs to take a 9-2 lead. GT added one in the third and five in the fourth to stretch its lead to 15-2.

INF Jack Counsell led off the top of the fifth with a double down the left-field line, and came around to score on Kucherak's double down the left-field line.

The Yellow Jackets added a pair in the bottom of the fifth to cap off the scoring.

RHP Sam Hliboki (1-2) is credited with the loss, surrendering nine runs on seven hits and two walks in 1.2 innings pitched. 

RHP Tate McKee (1-0) earned the win in 4.1 innings pitched, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks, striking out three. 

Game two of the series is set for 1 p.m. CT on Saturday on ACCNX. LHP Ryan Weaver is scheduled to start on the mound for the Wildcats.

Next Event

Georgia Tech

Feb 28 (Sat)

1 p.m. CT
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Team Stats

Pitching:

W: Tate McKee (2-0)

L: Hliboki, Sam (1-2)

Northwestern LogoNorthwestern

Batting:

2B: Kucherak, Ryan 1 ; Counsell, Jack 1

HR: Kucherak, Ryan 1

RBI: Kucherak, Ryan 3

Base Running:

RUNS: Lausch, Jack 1 ; Kucherak, Ryan 1 ; Counsell, Jack 1

Georgia Tech LogoGeorgia Tech

Batting:

2B: Drew Burress 2 ; Vahn Lackey 1 ; Will Baker 1 ; Caleb Daniel 1 ; Carson Kerce 1

HR: Jarren Advincula 2 ; Vahn Lackey 1 ; Caleb Daniel 1

RBI: Drew Burress 1 ; Alex Hernandez 1 ; Parker Brosius 1 ; Jarren Advincula 4 ; Vahn Lackey 4 ; Will Baker 2 ; Ryan Zuckerman 1 ; Caleb Daniel 1 ; Carson Kerce 2

SF: Will Baker 1

Base Running:

RUNS: Drew Burress 3 ; Alex Hernandez 3 ; Jarren Advincula 2 ; Vahn Lackey 2 ; Will Baker 1 ; Ryan Zuckerman 1 ; Caleb Daniel 3 ; Coleman Lewis 1 ; Carson Kerce 1

HBP: Alex Hernandez 1 ; Caleb Daniel 1

Game Leaders

AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0

Players Mentioned

INF
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RHP
/ Baseball
INF
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OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
Baseball - Northwestern Run Rules Rice, 17-6 (2/15/26)
Sunday, February 15
Baseball - '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