Northwestern University Athletics

'Cats Host Hoosiers for Three-Game Series at Wrigley Field and Miller Park
4/30/2026 2:13:00 PM | Baseball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern welcomes Indiana for a three-game series this weekend. The Wildcats and Hoosiers will open the series at Wrigley Field on Friday, with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m. CT. Saturday's game is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT, and Sunday's game is slated for 1 p.m. CT, both at Rocky and Berenice Miller Park. All three games will be streamed on B1G+.
Probable Pitchers
Friday, May 1: NU – LHP Ryan Weaver vs. Indiana – LHP Tony Neubeck
Saturday, May 2: NU – RHP Matt Kouser vs. Indiana – LHP Brayton Thomas
Sunday, May 3: NU – TBD vs. Indiana – TBD
Northwestern (17-24-1, 5-16 Big Ten) homered four times, including three long balls in the sixth inning, en route to a 10-8 victory over Milwaukee on Tuesday afternoon at Miller Park. Four different Wildcats logged multi-hit games, including three-hit outings from INF Owen McElfatrick and INF Noah Ruiz.
McElfatrick led off the bottom of the first with his 32nd career homer, giving him sole possession of second most in program history. McElfatrick trails only Eric Mogentale's (1981-84) 36 career home runs for the program record.
OF Jack Lausch and INF Ryan Kucherak slugged back-to-back homers in the sixth, both hitting their team-high 10th homer of the season.
LHP Ryan Weaver is set to make the start at the Friendly Confines. Weaver has logged a team-high three quality starts this season. Against Minnesota, the southpaw tossed a career-long 7.0+ innings, surrendering four runs on five hits.
RHP Matt Kouser has turned in quality starts in two of his last three appearances. At Minnesota, Kouser surrendered two runs on five hits in 6.0 innings pitched.
Northwestern is the only Big Ten team to have seven players with six or more home runs on the season. The Wildcats have slugged 57 long balls in 2026, fourth most in a single season in program history. In 2025, Northwestern set its program record with 71 home runs on the season.
The Wildcats are playing at Wrigley Field for the fourth consecutive season and the fifth time in the last 14 seasons. NU is 3-1 at the Friendly Confines over that span, most recently run-ruling Ohio State 12-2 in seven innings on May 9, 2025.
Indiana (20-25, 6-15 Big Ten) defeated Louisville, 10-6, in midweek action. OF Caleb Koskie leads all Hoosiers and ranks fifth in the conference with a .369 batting average. LHP Tony Neubeck leads all qualified Hoosier pitchers with a 4.45 earned-run average. IU leads the all-time series over the 'Cats, 116-82-2.
The Wildcats will host Illinois State on Tuesday, May 5, for a midweek matchup at Miller Park, before heading to Illinois for a three-game series from Friday, May 8, to Sunday, May 10.
Probable Pitchers
Friday, May 1: NU – LHP Ryan Weaver vs. Indiana – LHP Tony Neubeck
Saturday, May 2: NU – RHP Matt Kouser vs. Indiana – LHP Brayton Thomas
Sunday, May 3: NU – TBD vs. Indiana – TBD
Northwestern (17-24-1, 5-16 Big Ten) homered four times, including three long balls in the sixth inning, en route to a 10-8 victory over Milwaukee on Tuesday afternoon at Miller Park. Four different Wildcats logged multi-hit games, including three-hit outings from INF Owen McElfatrick and INF Noah Ruiz.
McElfatrick led off the bottom of the first with his 32nd career homer, giving him sole possession of second most in program history. McElfatrick trails only Eric Mogentale's (1981-84) 36 career home runs for the program record.
OF Jack Lausch and INF Ryan Kucherak slugged back-to-back homers in the sixth, both hitting their team-high 10th homer of the season.
RHP Tommy Bridges (2-0) tossed 2.0 scoreless innings, surrendering four hits to earn the win. RHP Garrett Shearer (1) earned his first save of the season, retiring the Panthers in order in the ninth.Power Surge ?? https://t.co/f41LwFSnV8 pic.twitter.com/PxWzWoUy1G
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) April 29, 2026
LHP Ryan Weaver is set to make the start at the Friendly Confines. Weaver has logged a team-high three quality starts this season. Against Minnesota, the southpaw tossed a career-long 7.0+ innings, surrendering four runs on five hits.
RHP Matt Kouser has turned in quality starts in two of his last three appearances. At Minnesota, Kouser surrendered two runs on five hits in 6.0 innings pitched.
Northwestern is the only Big Ten team to have seven players with six or more home runs on the season. The Wildcats have slugged 57 long balls in 2026, fourth most in a single season in program history. In 2025, Northwestern set its program record with 71 home runs on the season.
The Wildcats are playing at Wrigley Field for the fourth consecutive season and the fifth time in the last 14 seasons. NU is 3-1 at the Friendly Confines over that span, most recently run-ruling Ohio State 12-2 in seven innings on May 9, 2025.
Indiana (20-25, 6-15 Big Ten) defeated Louisville, 10-6, in midweek action. OF Caleb Koskie leads all Hoosiers and ranks fifth in the conference with a .369 batting average. LHP Tony Neubeck leads all qualified Hoosier pitchers with a 4.45 earned-run average. IU leads the all-time series over the 'Cats, 116-82-2.
The Wildcats will host Illinois State on Tuesday, May 5, for a midweek matchup at Miller Park, before heading to Illinois for a three-game series from Friday, May 8, to Sunday, May 10.
Players Mentioned
Baseball - 'Cats Power past Milwaukee in 10-8 Midweek Win (4/28/26)
Wednesday, April 29
Baseball - Northwestern Secures Run-Rule Victory on Walk-Off Hit By Pitch (4/22/26)
Thursday, April 23
Baseball - Six-Run Second Inning Lifts 'Cats to 11-6 Victory over Bradley (4/21/26)
Wednesday, April 22
Baseball - Comeback 'Cats Erase 7-Run Deficit in 12-11 Victory over Flames (4/14/26)
Wednesday, April 15


























