Despite a thrilling extra-inning win in the finale, Northwestern baseball dropped its series against No. 21 Oregon in Eugene last weekend.
The Wildcats (8-11-1, 2-4 B1G) followed a similar pattern from their previous series against USC: a lopsided loss in the opener, a more competitive defeat in the second game and a narrow victory in the final contest. This matchup against Oregon (19-4, 7-2 B1G) capped off a difficult stretch in NU’s schedule, as it faced off against the fourth-best team in the Big
Ten and one of the top teams in the nation overall.
Game 1: Oregon 20, Northwestern 6 (Friday, March 20).
This was a game to forget for the ‘Cats, as the team dug themselves a crater they couldn’t climb out of. The Ducks posted a staggering 10 runs in the first inning off Ryan Weaver, who lasted just 0.1 innings on the mound. Oregon’s offensive onslaught came through a string of timely hits – four RBI singles, one RBI double and a three-run home run. The Ducks’ bats stayed hot through the remaining innings, as they mashed two more home runs in the top of the third, while picking up two runs in the fourth inning, one in the fifth and four in the sixth.
Entering the seventh inning, the score was 20-1 in favor of Oregon, with the ‘Cats’ only run coming off a solo shot from Noah Ruiz, his third of the season and one that gave him a team-high 16 RBIs. The Wildcats tacked on five more runs in the final inning, with three coming off a three-run home run from Owen McElfatrick — one that moved him into a tie for fifth place in school history in that category. The other two runs were produced by Carter Danz’s first career RBI, and a wild pitch that Ryan Kucherak came around to score on.
Every single NU pitcher gave up at least one run in this game except for James Whitaker, who recorded the final two outs. Meanwhile, Oregon’s pitching staff shut down Northwestern’s bats, as the ‘Cats managed just four hits on the night.
Game 2: Oregon 6, Northwestern 4 (Saturday, March 21)
This matchup started off eerily similar for the Ducks, as in the first game, they got on the board in the first inning. It wasn’t a 10-run avalanche this time, but rather a two-run shot from Oregon’s Drew Smith.
However, NU immediately countered in the top of the second. Nick Barron started it with a leadoff walk, and McElfatrick set the table with a double, putting Wildcats on second and third with nobody out. Jack Lausch brought Barron home on a sacrifice fly, and Ruiz grounded into a fielder’s choice that sent McElfatrick to the plate, evening the score at 2-2.
The Ducks’ potent offense quickly regained a three-run lead in the subsequent inning off two long balls — a two-run shot and a solo shot. NU’s batters went down in order in the third and fourth innings, while Oregon tacked on another run. Down 6-2 in the fifth, catcher Jay Slater cut the deficit in half with a two-run moonshot — his third of the season. The ‘Cats’ offense had opportunities in the final four innings, including multiple runners in scoring position, but each time they were unable to capitalize, as Oregon held firmly onto its 6-4 lead to secure the series win.
Despite the loss, it was a much better day for Northwestern’s pitching staff. While Garrett Shearer struggled, giving up five runs in 2.2 innings, Jake Rifenburg was excellent with 5.1 innings of one-run ball out of the bullpen.
Game 3: Northwestern 11, Oregon 10 (Sunday, March 22)
Despite two deflating losses, NU closed out the series with arguably its most memorable victory of the season, and its first all-time against Oregon.
Oregon maintained the pattern of scoring in the first frame, jumping out in front 2-0 early. NU responded in the top of the second, with Ruiz’s second home run of the series and an RBI double from Slater tying the game. With Slater on second, freshman Jake Yang stepped to the plate and poked an RBI single up the middle – his first career hit and RBI – that gave NU a 3-2 advantage, its first lead of the weekend.
What further set this game apart from the first two was Northwestern’s ability to not only grab the lead but build on it. After Lausch doubled to open the fourth inning, Yang sent him home with his second hit and RBI of the day. After Logan de Groot and Jackson Freeman reached to load the bases, Kucherak and Barron plated two runners with a sacrifice fly and single, respectively.
NU had a 6-2 lead, but the offense wasn’t finished with stretching the lead. Lausch again led off the following inning and this time registered a solo shot, while Yang and de Groot both got on board and were brought home on an electric three-run blast from Kucherak. In the blink of an eye, the ‘Cats were up 10-2.
There’s a reason Oregon is ranked No. 21 in the country, however, and the Ducks proved why by mounting a major comeback. Two runs in the sixth, five in the seventh and a devastating solo shot to open the bottom of the ninth inning were enough for Oregon to tie the game at 10-10 and send the contest to extra innings.
Despite ceding a large lead and the immense pressure put on by the Ducks’ offense, NU did not waver down the stretch. The Ducks were on the brink of winning the game in both the ninth and 10th innings, but reliever Dominic DeLoreto came in clutch for NU by stranding multiple Oregon runners on base.
The biggest test came in the bottom of the 11th. Oregon worked the bases loaded with only one out, but Wildcat freshman Justin Fryer got the two biggest outs of his life – a strikeout and ground out, to get out of the jam and leave Oregon empty-handed.
Following that, Northwestern’s offense finally broke through in the 12th inning. After Kucherak reached on a single and advanced to third with smart base running, McElfatrick got the clutch hit – an RBI single that drove Kucherak home and put NU up 11-10.
Fryer threw another scoreless inning in the 12th, once again working around runners on base, and stamped the victory with a strikeout.
Up Next
While the ‘Cats were slated to face Portland on Tuesday, the game has been moved to Monday, March 23 due to inclement weather. First pitch is at 8:05 p.m. CT.
