Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
10-9
McNeese
9-10
Wildcat Offense Stays Hot in 12-4 Win over McNeese
3/22/2024 9:52:00 PM | Baseball
Northwestern (10-9) opened the scoring in the top of the first on a RBI single by Trent Liolios, driving in Jackson Freeman to put the 'Cats on the board. The Cowboys (9-10) responded in the bottom half of the frame with a pair of home runs to take a 3-1 lead. NU cut into the MSU lead when Preston Knott scored on a double play, halving the deficit. McNeese re-extended the lead with an RBI single in the bottom of the second, taking a 4-2 lead.Three in a Row for the 'Cats! ?? pic.twitter.com/jr6lHVvwE3
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) March 23, 2024
Liolios tied the game with a third inning two-run home run to right center field, scoring Bennett Markinson to knot the game up at four apiece.
The Wildcats took the lead on a Vince Bianchina RBI single, scoring Tony Livermore, giving NU a 5-4 lead in the top of the fourth inning. The Wildcat offense exploded for five runs in the top of the fifth inning, capped off by a Griffin Arnone double that pushed Knott across, putting NU up 9-4.Trent goes yard and we are TIED!
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) March 22, 2024
?? @LioliosTrent pic.twitter.com/ZQ2sidwjKH
In the sixth inning, Jackson Freeman hit his second career home run, a two-run shot to right field, giving Northwestern an 11-4 edge. The first-year from Tesoro, California went 2-for-4 with one walk, three runs, and two RBI.
NU added one more run in the eighth inning on an RBI groundout by Bennett Markinson, giving NU its 10th unanswered run and putting the 'Cats up 12-4.A NO DOUBTER from @Jacksonrfreeman ???? pic.twitter.com/Boy223dQMc
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) March 23, 2024
Nolan Morr started on the bump for the Wildcats. The southpaw struggled in the first inning, allowing three runs on two home runs, but rebounded to strike out three batters over four innings.
Matt McClure (2-2) earned the win for the Wildcats, allowing just two hits over four scoreless innings, striking out one batter. McClure has tossed 7.0 consecutive scoreless innings.
Cameron LeJeune (2-2) was handed the loss for the Cowboys, allowing seven runs on six hits and five walks in 4.0 innings pitched.
Game Notes
- Northwestern scored 10 unanswered runs en route to the 12-4 win.
- Northwestern has won three consecutive games, averaging 11.7 runs per game over that span.
- The Wildcats did not allow a run over the game's final seven innings.
- Cole Mascott tossed a scoreless ninth inning, surrendering one strikeout and walking one batter.
- Trent Liolios went 3-for-5 with three RBI, two runs and a two-run home run.
Game Two of the series is set for Saturday, March 23 at 2 p.m. CT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: McClure, Matt (2-2)
L: Cameron LeJeune (2-2)
Batting:
2B: Arnone, Griffin 1
HR: Freeman, Jackson 1 ; Liolios, Trent 1
RBI: Bianchina, Vince 1 ; Freeman, Jackson 2 ; Markinson, Bennett 1 ; Liolios, Trent 3 ; Johnson, Will 1 ; Livermore, Tony 1 ; Arnone, Griffin 1
SH: Livermore, Tony 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bianchina, Vince 1 ; McElfatrick, Owen 1 ; Freeman, Jackson 3 ; Markinson, Bennett 2 ; Liolios, Trent 2 ; Knott, Preston 2 ; Livermore, Tony 1
HBP: Knott, Preston 1 ; Johnson, Will 1 ; Livermore, Tony 1
Batting:
3B: Grant Mangrum 1
HR: Chase Keeton 1 ; Elliot Hebert 1
RBI: Chase Keeton 2 ; Elliot Hebert 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Chase Keeton 1 ; Conner Westenburg 1 ; Elliot Hebert 1 ; Grant Mangrum 1
