Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
5-3
#5 Georgia Tech
9-1
'Cats Drop Series Opener to No. 5 Yellow Jackets
2/27/2026 6:05:00 PM | Baseball
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..@Ryankucherak gets us started with a two-run blast! ?? pic.twitter.com/4SiJ173QQI
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) February 27, 2026
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.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Tate McKee (2-0)
L: Hliboki, Sam (1-2)
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
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
