Northwestern's Late Rally Not Enough in 4-3 Loss at Illinois

Saturday, May 9

Champaign, Ill.

5:30 p.m. CT

Northwestern

20-27-1, 0

Illinois

26-23, 0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Northwestern	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	1	3	6	0
Illinois	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	9	1

Northwestern's Late Rally Not Enough in 4-3 Loss at Illinois

5/9/2026 10:13:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Northwestern's late rally was not enough as the Wildcats came up short in a 4-3 setback at Illinois on Saturday night.

The Wildcats (20-27-1, 7-19 Big Ten) erased a three-run deficit early, tying the game in the top of the ninth to extend it, before Illinois (26-23, 12-14 Big Ten) secured the win on a ninth-inning walk-off home run.

The Fighting Illini went ahead with one run in the bottom of the first and two in the bottom of the second to take a 3-0 lead.

In the top of the sixth, INF Owen McElfatrick slugged his 35th career home run, a solo shot to bring him within one home run of Eric Mogentale's program record 36 career homers. McElfatrick has homered against the Fighting Illini in each season of his career.

RHP Matt Kouser recorded his fourth quality start over his last five appearances, surrendering three runs on six hits, striking out three and issuing three walks in 6.0 innings pitched.

McElfatrick picked up his second RBI of the day in the eighth, scoring OF Marty Kaplan with an RBI single to cut the deficit to one.

The Wildcats evened the game in the ninth on an RBI single, with PR Charlie Caruso scoring a run on an Illinois error.

Illini C Will Johannes walked it off with a solo home run in the first at-bat of the bottom of the ninth to secure the 4-3 victory for Illinois.

LHP Jake Rifenburg (2-6) is credited with the loss, surrendering one run on three hits, striking out one and walking two in 2.0+ innings pitched.

Sunday's series finale is set for 1 p.m. CT at Illinois Field.