Northwestern University Athletics
Saturday, March 14
Evanston, Ill.
11 a.m. CT
Northwestern
0
vs
2
#25 USC
Northwestern Hands No. 25 USC First Loss of Season
3/14/2026 7:02:00 PM | Baseball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern walked off No. 25 USC, 2-1 in the series finale to split Saturday's doubleheader at Miller Park. The Trojans entered Saturday as the last remaining unbeaten team in Division I.
Game One - USC 2, Northwestern 0
No. 25 USC secured a series victory with a 2-0 win in game one of Saturday's doubleheader.
RHP Garrett Shearer was solid in the start for Northwestern (6-9-1, 0-2 Big Ten), working 4.0 hitless innings, striking out four and allowing just two walks.
USC (19-0, 5-0 Big Ten) grabbed the lead in the top of the sixth, taking a 1-0 lead on an RBI single by OF Kevin Takeuchi. The Trojans added a run in the top of the eighth on a sacrifice bunt by OF Andrew Lamb to stretch their lead to 2-0.
RHP Grant Govel (5-0) tossed 7.0 shutout innings for the Trojans, striking out six and allowing just two hits.
RHP Adam Troy collected his sixth save of the season, entering with a runner on first and one out, retiring the final two batters of the game.
Game Two - Northwestern 2, USC 1
The Wildcats handed USC its first loss of the season, walking off the Trojans, 2-1, in the bottom of the ninth.
Three Wildcat pitchers combined to allow just one run on three hits in the contest, matching USC's season low.
Northwestern (7-9-1, 1-2 Big Ten) jumped out to an early lead, going ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the first. OF Jack Lausch led off the inning with a double, and INF Nick Barron brought him home with a double of his own to give NU the lead.
RHP Matt Kouser tossed 4.1 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out a pair in the start.
USC (19-1, 5-1 Big Ten) clawed back to knot the game at one apiece with a run in the eighth.
In the bottom of the ninth, INF Nick Barron led off the inning with a base hit through the left side. After pinch runner Jake Yang advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and moved over to third on a groundout, OF Logan de Groot drove him in for the game-winning run to secure the victory.
RHP Sam Hliboki (2-2) earned the win for the Wildcats, allowing one run on two hits, striking out four in 4.1 innings pitched.
Northwestern continues Big Ten play when it begins a seven-game road swing with a three-game series at Oregon next weekend.
LOGAN DE GROOT WALKS IT OFF! 'CATS WIN! pic.twitter.com/V1Wjc6sWXy
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) March 14, 2026
Game One - USC 2, Northwestern 0
No. 25 USC secured a series victory with a 2-0 win in game one of Saturday's doubleheader.
RHP Garrett Shearer was solid in the start for Northwestern (6-9-1, 0-2 Big Ten), working 4.0 hitless innings, striking out four and allowing just two walks.
USC (19-0, 5-0 Big Ten) grabbed the lead in the top of the sixth, taking a 1-0 lead on an RBI single by OF Kevin Takeuchi. The Trojans added a run in the top of the eighth on a sacrifice bunt by OF Andrew Lamb to stretch their lead to 2-0.
RHP Grant Govel (5-0) tossed 7.0 shutout innings for the Trojans, striking out six and allowing just two hits.
RHP Adam Troy collected his sixth save of the season, entering with a runner on first and one out, retiring the final two batters of the game.
Game Two - Northwestern 2, USC 1
The Wildcats handed USC its first loss of the season, walking off the Trojans, 2-1, in the bottom of the ninth.
Three Wildcat pitchers combined to allow just one run on three hits in the contest, matching USC's season low.
Northwestern (7-9-1, 1-2 Big Ten) jumped out to an early lead, going ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the first. OF Jack Lausch led off the inning with a double, and INF Nick Barron brought him home with a double of his own to give NU the lead.
RHP Matt Kouser tossed 4.1 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out a pair in the start.
USC (19-1, 5-1 Big Ten) clawed back to knot the game at one apiece with a run in the eighth.
In the bottom of the ninth, INF Nick Barron led off the inning with a base hit through the left side. After pinch runner Jake Yang advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and moved over to third on a groundout, OF Logan de Groot drove him in for the game-winning run to secure the victory.
RHP Sam Hliboki (2-2) earned the win for the Wildcats, allowing one run on two hits, striking out four in 4.1 innings pitched.
Northwestern continues Big Ten play when it begins a seven-game road swing with a three-game series at Oregon next weekend.
Players Mentioned
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