Wildcats Win Extra-Inning Thriller at No. 21 Oregon

Sunday, March 22

Eugene, Ore.

2:05 p.m. CT

Northwestern

8-11-1, 2-4

#21 Oregon

19-4, 7-2

Northwestern

Oregon

Wildcats Win Extra-Inning Thriller at No. 21 Oregon

3/22/2026 9:04:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

EUGENE, Ore. – Northwestern rallied late for a thrilling 11-10 extra-inning win at No. 21 Oregon in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at PK Park.

INF Ryan Kucherak matched his career high with four hits, going 4-for-4 with a home run, two walks, four RBI and two runs in the victory.

First-year INF Jake Yang had a breakout day at the plate, recording his first career hit and first career RBI, going 3-for-5 with a double, two runs and two RBI.

Oregon (19-4, 7-2 Big Ten) jumped out to an early lead, scoring the first two runs of the game on two walks and one hit in the bottom of the first.

Northwestern (8-11-1, 2-4 Big Ten) responded with 10 unanswered runs to take a 10-2 lead. The Wildcats went ahead with three runs in the top of the second. NU got on the board with a solo shot by INF Noah Ruiz, his second of the weekend. C Jay Slater tied the game with an RBI double and came around to score on an RBI single by Yang to put the 'Cats ahead.

NU continued to add on in the top of the fourth, adding three more runs to stretch its advantage to 6-2. Yang picked up his second RBI of the day with a double to score Lausch, Kucherak brought Yang home with a sacrifice fly and INF Nick Barron added another run with an RBI single of his own.

The 'Cats used a fifth-inning power surge to extend the lead to 10-2 on a solo homer by Lausch and a three-run blast by Kucherak.

RHP Matt Kouser delivered a strong start, surrendering two runs on two hits and two walks, fanning five in 5.0 innings pitched.

Oregon tied the game at 10 with two runs in the sixth, five in the seventh and one in the ninth.

With the Ducks threatening to walk it off in the bottom of the ninth, LHP Dominic DeLoreto entered in relief and worked a double play and a strikeout to send it to the 10th. In the 10th, DeLoreto stranded two more baserunners to extend the game.

With Kucherak on third base in the top of the twelfth, McElfatrick drove him in with an RBI single, putting NU back on top.

'CATS IN FRONT!@o_mcelfatrick drives in Kucherak for the lead in the top of the 12th! pic.twitter.com/NT1cSE15RR
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) March 22, 2026

LHP Justin Fryer (2-1) earned the win, tossing scoreless innings in the 11th and 12th to seal the victory.

Ballgame ?? pic.twitter.com/QyU0bcGjO9
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) March 22, 2026

Due to anticipated heavy rain in the forecast, Northwestern's midweek game at Portland, originally scheduled for Tuesday, March 24, has been moved up to Monday, March 23 at 8:05 p.m. CT/6:05 p.m. PT.