Baseball: Fourth straight B1G series loss puts the ‘Cats in tough position nearing end of season

The final countdown has begun.

Northwestern’s (20-22, 9-12 B1G) season has been a game of tug-of-war, yanked between victory and defeat. Heading into their final stretch, they needed to dig in, grip the rope tighter and pull with everything they had.

The ‘Cats traveled to West Lafayette this weekend to face the Purdue Boilermakers (26-18, 7-14 B1G) in a three-game series. After Friday’s opener, games two and three were combined into a Saturday doubleheader.

In game one, the bats started hot for Northwestern; a pair of singles by sophomore Jackson Freeman and junior Owen McElfatrick put early pressure on the Boilermaker defense. After the immediate walk of sophomore Ryan Kucherak and sac-fly by junior Jack Lausch, the ‘Cats notched one run on the board — a feat they would not repeat until the sixth inning.

While Northwestern’s bats cooled and four runners were left on base throughout the following four innings, Purdue found their rhythm. Four runs in the third and another in the fifth extended Purdue’s lead to 6-1 heading into the sixth.

A lead-off double by Lausch and a sac-fly by senior Bennett Markinson carved out another run for the ‘Cats before a groundout by junior Trent Liolios closed the inning. However, a Northwestern pitching change to first-year Jack Grunkemeyer led to a scoreless bottom inning for Purdue.

Heading into the seventh, momentum and grit shifted the tides for Northwestern. A walk and two singles put them in prime position — bases loaded, no outs — as Freeman stepped up. Three pitches later, the damage began. Two hit-by-pitches walked in two runs for the Wildcats before graduate student Jacob Hand produced an RBI single to cut the deficit to 4-6. Then came Markinson. The senior smashed a base-clearing double down the left field line and put the ‘Cats on top 8-6.

The final two innings saw zeroes from both teams, Northwestern solidifying their first win against Purdue since 2023 and leading the series heading into Saturday.

Any energy from the win on Friday quickly faded in the next game. The ‘Cats were scoreless on Saturday until the ninth inning when they were trailing 5-0.

Their last chance to score saw McElfatrick leading off with a single. He didn’t stay there long, as Kucherak’s RBI double to right center drove him in and secured one run for NU. A follow-up single by senior Preston Knott put runners on the corners as Markinson stepped up to the plate. After one pitch, Markinson singled through the left side and scored Kucherak before Knott crossed the plate on a wild pitch the following at bat.

With two final outs, the Boilermakers silenced Northwestern’s last fight, forcing the Wildcats to put their series hopes on hold with a 3-5 loss in game two.

An hour between games two and three was crucial for Northwestern to regroup. First-year Matthew Kouser started on the mound but could not keep Purdue at bay. A hit-by-pitch, single and triple by the Purdue offense put them up 3-0.

This time, a Wildcat response quickly closed the gap in the second. A walk from Lausch and a single by Knott laid the groundwork for Hand to score two on his up-the-middle single. Two swift outs following the RBIs ended the inning, but damage had already been done.

Six straight outs sent both teams into the bottom of the third. It could have been another quiet inning, but a failed back-pick by Northwestern gave an opening for the Boilermakers to respond, extending their lead to 4-2 until the sixth inning.

The middle of the order got it started for the ‘Cats, as Markinson and Lausch picked up singles to put pressure on with no outs. A bunt by Knott, placed just out of reach of Purdue fielders, scored Markinson and placed runners on first and second. Hoping to capitalize on this success, graduate student Tyler Ganus laid down a bunt himself and just missed beating the throw to first. While the attempt moved the runners, it also handed the Boilermakers their first out. Unable to produce base hits, outs two and three were quick to follow for the ‘Cats as they trailed Purdue 3-4.

In the next two innings, both teams traded runs. The Boilermakers produced one in the seventh and two in the eighth, while NU managed one in the eighth as their hopes of a win slowly faded.

In the ninth, the ‘Cats were down three with the top of the order due up after sophomore Griffin Mills knocked a pinch-hit single on a 3-2 count. A double by Freeman and a Kucherak hit-by-pitch kept the inning alive with only one out. Following this, a sac-fly by Markinson allowed Mills to score and Freeman to take third.

With the tying run on first and two outs, Lausch was possibly NU’s last chance at a series victory. After watching a ball, Lausch swung and lifted it into the glove of center fielder Brandon Rogers — the final score 7-5.

Northwestern (21-24, 10-14 B1G) will host Ohio State for their last home series from Friday to Sunday. The ‘Cats host the Buckeyes at Wrigley Field on Friday before closing the series at Rocky and Berenice Miller Park on Saturday and Sunday.