Northwestern entered a pivotal Big Ten series having lost five of its last seven and badly needed a series win to turn its season around. However, a lack of clutch time hitting and pitching ensured another series loss as the ‘Cats (9-14-1, 3-6 B1G) lost two of three games to Washington (12-15, 6-6 B1G) to close out its West Coast trip.
Game 1: Northwestern 2, Washington 7
The series started off with a bang as Northwestern’s Owen McElfatrick hit a home run in the first at-bat of the first game. NU’s leadoff man, not known for his power,
provided a spark that gave the Wildcats an early jolt.
It didn’t last.
Washington responded immediately as a leadoff walk given up by Northwestern starter Garrett Shearer preceded three straight Husky singles. Washington’s Daniel Porras then stole home, and Northwestern trailed 3-1 after the first inning.
Things seemingly calmed down from there as a second-inning pitching change by the ‘Cats, bringing in first-year Jake Rifenburg, stranded a Husky runner at third, so neither team scored in the second inning. Yet, in the bottom of the third, Rifenburg lost control of the game and surrendered a single, hit a Washington batter and allowed a bases-clearing triple without recording an out. A well-timed mound visit proved beneficial for the freshman pitcher, but Washington held a commanding 6-1 lead at the end of the third.
From there, the story belonged to Husky starter Noah Kenney. Following two singles that scored the Huskies’ seventh run of the ball game, Kenney put up another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the seventh, the finishing touches on a pitching masterpiece where he retired the last 14 batters he faced.
The Wildcats took advantage of a new pitcher in the eighth inning, scoring their second run on a Shane Hofstadler RBI double, but it was too little too late. NU’s offense struggled to get any further momentum going, and Washington shut the door in the ninth to cruise to a 7-2 victory in game one.
Game 2: Northwestern 10, Washington 9
The NU offense came out hot again, as a two-out rally headlined by RBI doubles from Logan De Groot and Nick Barron helped the ‘Cats put up three runs in the first inning.
It didn’t last.
Washington responded immediately once again as NU’s starter Matthew Kouser conceded two walks and then a three-run homer to the first three batters he faced. The Huskies kept the pressure on in the second, stringing together four hits to take a 5-3 advantage.
The Wildcats turned to their bullpen after two more hits in the third. Ryan Weaver entered the game with runners on second and third and only one out. He didn’t allow any more hits in the inning, but two wild pitches and a walk gave Washington a 7-3 lead.
In the fourth, Barron helped the ‘Cats begin to chip away with his third home run of the year to tighten the gap to three. Then, in the top of the sixth, NU broke through. It was once again Barron energizing the ‘Cats as his two-out single sparked a rally which included a Noah Ruiz double and a Hofstadler three-run bomb to tie things at seven.
From there, Weaver took control. He kept Washington off the board, so it was still 7-7 when Hofstadler stepped to the plate again in the eighth with Ruiz on second. Hofstadler’s double down the left field line broke the ice as Ruiz’s speed enabled the ‘Cats to take an 8-7 lead.
Northwestern added insurance the next inning, as De Groot drove in two more runs with a bases-loaded single to push the lead to 10-7.
Washington made one final push in the ninth. A two-run homer cut the deficit to one, and a triple put the tying run 90 feet away for Husky pinch hitter Ethan Swidler. Yet, Weaver didn’t break. He induced a flyout to end it, securing the 10-9 win. Seven of the Wildcats’ runs came with two outs as their perseverance ensured the much-needed victory.
Game 3: Northwestern 2, Washington 7
For the third straight game, Northwestern struck first. Ryan Kucherak’s RBI single in the opening frame gave the Wildcats an early 1-0 lead, and for once, they kept Washington off the board in the bottom half.
That didn’t last long.
After starting pitcher Alex Grant worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the second, the ‘Cats made an early call to the bullpen by bringing in Sam Hliboki.
In the fourth, Jackson Hotchkiss smashed a three-run homer to deep center to give the Huskies a 3-1 lead. Two innings later, Swidler’s 388-foot blast extended the advantage and put Northwestern on its heels.
Meanwhile, NU’s offense went quiet. Husky relief pitcher Bryce Johnson replaced starter Hayden Lewis in the seventh after six innings of one-run baseball. Johnson retired Northwestern in order in his first inning of work.
The ‘Cats made a pitching change of their own in the seventh, bringing in Drew Dickson. The NU response did not work to the same effect as Dickson gave up a two-run home run to Porras that stretched the Husky lead to five. Justin Fryer took the mound to relieve Dickson, but an RBI double inflicted more damage and put the Huskies up 7-1.
McElfatrick provided a late bright spot with his second home run of the season, but Washington closed it out from there. The Husky bullpen secured a 7-2 win and the series victory.
Northwestern returns home on Tuesday, March 31, for a matchup with Valparaiso at 3 p.m. CT.
