Northwestern picked up two victories against non-conference foes.
After suffering a three-game sweep to Iowa that extended their losing streak to seven, the Wildcats successfully regained momentum against two non-conference foes.
In Northwestern’s first matchup, Ben Greenspan and the ‘Cats hosted cross-state rival Eastern Illinois on Tuesday afternoon. Throughout the game, Northwestern relied heavily on the top of its lineup to support the rest of the team
After falling behind 4-2 in the bottom of the third inning against the Panthers, the ‘Cats found a spark from catcher Bennett Markinson, who hit a solo home run to trim Eastern Illinois’ lead to 4-3.
However, the tide turned for Greenspan’s ball club in the bottom of the fourth, as second baseman Owen McElfatrick delivered a two-run RBI double that drove in designated hitter Drewbie Pinkston and shortstop Tony Livermore, giving the ‘Cats a 5-4 lead over the Panthers.
Markinson looked to drive McElfatrick home in the following at-bat, but Northwestern’s three-hole hitter flew out, putting two outs on the board. Nonetheless, freshman phenom Jackson Freeman came to the rescue, ensuring the second baseman wasn’t stranded.
Freeman’s RBI single drove in McElfatrick and extended Northwestern’s lead to 6-4.
The Panthers staged a comeback in the top of the sixth inning. Outfielder Trenton Pallas connected against right-hander Matt McClure, launching a two-run homer that brought third baseman Michael O’Connor home, tying the score at 6-6.
Once again, in the bottom of the sixth, Northwestern turned to Freeman’s heroics. He hit a two-run RBI triple with two outs, bringing home Markison and left fielder Preston Knott. This clutch hit gave the Cats an 8-6 lead and set the tone for the rest of the game.
In the bottom of the eighth, Freeman secured the win. The freshman successfully bunted in Knott, extending Northwestern’s lead to 9-7, which was game’s final score.
The Wildcats carried momentum from their victory against Eastern Illinois to Milwaukee. However, Northwestern didn’t begin to click until the latter half of the game.
In the bottom of the sixth, with the score tied at 3-3, McElfatrick came through in the clutch for the ‘Cats, hitting a grand slam that gave Northwestern a comfortable 7-3 lead. Continuing his hot streak, the second baseman hit a two-run homer in his next at-bat in the eighth inning, cementing a 9-3 victory.
On the mound, the ‘Cats received a stellar performance from left-handed pitcher Nolan Morr, who came in to relieve right-hander Luke Benneche after the sixth inning. Morr was lights out for Northwestern in the final part of the game. Over three innings, he didn’t allow a hit or run and struck out six batters, doubling Benneche’s total strikeouts for the game, as the starter had only managed to retire three hitters during the contest.
The ‘Cats will now look to extend their winning streak when they head to Columbus, Ohio to face the Buckeyes for a three-game weekend series on Friday night.