Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, April 17
Ann Arbor, Mich.
3 p.m. CT
Northwestern
14-19-1, 5-11
6
at
7
Michigan
22-15, 8-8
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 1 |
| Michigan | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 7 | 9 | 0 |
NU's Late Rally Not Enough in Series Opening Setback at Michigan
4/17/2026 6:52:00 PM | Baseball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Northwestern's late rally came up short as NU was edged 7-6 by Michigan in the series opener on Friday afternoon at Ray Fisher Stadium.
INF Noah Ruiz collected his team-high 14th multi-hit effort with a season high three hits, tallying a double and a run scored.
Northwestern (14-19-1, 5-11 Big Ten) loaded the bases in the top of the first for INF Owen McElfatrick, who delivered a two-run single to draw first blood.
Michigan (22-15, 8-8 Big Ten) answered with a solo homer in the bottom of the first and added three runs in the second to take the lead.
The Wildcats trimmed the deficit to one in the top of the third on an RBI groundout by OF Jackson Freeman, scoring INF Ryan Kucherak.
The Wolverines responded with one in the third and two in the fifth to stretch their lead to 7-3.
NU fought back in the ninth, trimming the deficit to one on home runs by C Jay Slater and Kucherak, but was unable to extend the game.
Game two of the weekend series in Ann Arbor is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT on B1G+, and Sunday's series finale is set for 10 a.m. CT on BTN.
INF Noah Ruiz collected his team-high 14th multi-hit effort with a season high three hits, tallying a double and a run scored.
Northwestern (14-19-1, 5-11 Big Ten) loaded the bases in the top of the first for INF Owen McElfatrick, who delivered a two-run single to draw first blood.
Michigan (22-15, 8-8 Big Ten) answered with a solo homer in the bottom of the first and added three runs in the second to take the lead.
The Wildcats trimmed the deficit to one in the top of the third on an RBI groundout by OF Jackson Freeman, scoring INF Ryan Kucherak.
The Wolverines responded with one in the third and two in the fifth to stretch their lead to 7-3.
NU fought back in the ninth, trimming the deficit to one on home runs by C Jay Slater and Kucherak, but was unable to extend the game.
LHP Jake Rifenburg (2-4) surrendered seven runs on nine hits and two walks in the start.
Game two of the weekend series in Ann Arbor is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT on B1G+, and Sunday's series finale is set for 10 a.m. CT on BTN.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kurt Barr (5-2)
L: Rifenburg, Jake (2-4)
S: Gavin DeVooght (8)
Batting:
2B: Ruiz, Noah 1
HR: Kucherak, Ryan 1 ; Slater, Jay 1
RBI: Kucherak, Ryan 1 ; Freeman, Jackson 1 ; McElfatrick, Owen 2 ; Slater, Jay 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Barron, Nick 1 ; Kucherak, Ryan 2 ; Ruiz, Noah 1 ; Counsell, Jack 1 ; Slater, Jay 1
Batting:
2B: Brayden Jefferis 1 ; Cade Ladehoff 1
HR: Colby Turner 1
RBI: Colby Turner 1 ; Brayden Jefferis 3 ; Cade Ladehoff 1 ; Josh Campbell 1
SH: Brenden Stressler 1
SF: Cade Ladehoff 1 ; Josh Campbell 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Colby Turner 2 ; Brayden Jefferis 1 ; Joonsung Park 1 ; Cade Ladehoff 1 ; Josh Campbell 1 ; Drew Culbertson 1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
OF
/ BaseballINF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballINF
/ BaseballC
/ BaseballBaseball - 'Cats Ground Redbirds in 7-1 Midweek Victory (5/5/26)
Tuesday, May 05
Baseball - 'Cats Take Series with 9-6 Victory over Hoosiers (5/3/26)
Sunday, May 03
Baseball - 'Cats Even Series with 7-4 Victory over Indiana (5/2/26)
Saturday, May 02
Baseball - 'Cats Power past Milwaukee in 10-8 Midweek Win (4/28/26)
Wednesday, April 29
