Northwestern
10-11, 0
Illinois
12-9, 0
Wildcats Take Series with 14-4 Run-Rule Victory over Illinois
3/22/2025 6:05:00 PM | Baseball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern clinched a series victory over Illinois with a 14-4 run-rule victory in seven innings on Saturday afternoon at Miller Park.
Northwestern (10-11, 3-3 Big Ten) got on the board first when OF Preston Knott scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the first, giving NU a 1-0 lead.SERIES DUB ??? pic.twitter.com/8A6IITfhws
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) March 22, 2025
The Wildcats put up five runs in the bottom of the second to take a commanding lead. INF Jack Counsell led off the inning with his first career home run, a solo shot to right, to double NU's advantage. With the bases loaded later in the inning, OF Jackson Freeman hit a grand slam, his second homer of the season, putting the Wildcats up 6-0.
In the bottom of the third, C Bennett Markinson doubled to left-center, scoring INF Trent Liolios. Two batters later, UTL Tyler Ganus singled, scoring Markinson and extending NU's lead to 8-0.
The Fighting Illini (12-9, 2-4 Big Ten) clawed back with four runs in the top of the sixth, cutting NU's lead to 8-4.
Northwestern scored six in the seventh to seal the run-rule win and walk off the Fighting Illini. After Liolios and Counsell reached base to open the inning, Markinson drove in Liolios with a single through the left side. OF Preston Knott cushioned the lead with a bases-loaded walk, scoring Counsell. Next batter, INF Owen McElfatrick was hit by a pitch, pushing Markinson across. Jackson Freeman recorded his fifth RBI of the game on a fielder's choice, bringing Ganus home. With the bases loaded, a two-run double by Trent Liolios ended the game, scoring Freeman and Knott to give the Wildcats the run-rule victory.
LHP Crawford Wade (1-3) earned the win in 6.0 innings of work, surrendering four runs on five hits, striking out three and walking four. RHP Jack Grunkemeyer worked a scoreless inning in relief, walking one, and earning his first career save.
Game Notes
- Seven different Wildcats recorded an RBI, the most in a single-game since March 22, 2024 at McNeese.
- OF Jackson Freeman recorded a season-high five RBI, matching his career high.
- OF Preston Knott went 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs, two doubles, and a walk.
- C Bennett Markinson went 3-for-3 with three runs, two RBI, a double, and a hit by pitch.
- INF Trent Liolios recorded his ninth multi-hit game of the season.
- INF Owen McElfatrick extended his reached-base streak to 15 games.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wade, Crawford (1-3)
L: Hall, Regan (2-1)
S: Grunkemeyer, Jack (1)
Batting:
2B: LaChance, Greg 1
HR: Jennings, Collin 1
RBI: Schupmann, Kyle 1 ; Jennings, Collin 3
SF: Schupmann, Kyle 1
Base Running:
RUNS: LaChance, Greg 1 ; Groves, Nick 1 ; Zebig, Jack 1 ; Jennings, Collin 1
Batting:
2B: Knott, Preston 2 ; Liolios, Trent 1 ; Markinson, Bennett 1
HR: Freeman, Jackson 1 ; Counsell, Jack 1
RBI: Knott, Preston 1 ; McElfatrick, Owen 1 ; Freeman, Jackson 5 ; Liolios, Trent 2 ; Counsell, Jack 1 ; Markinson, Bennett 2 ; Ganus, Tyler 1
SH: Counsell, Jack 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Knott, Preston 3 ; McElfatrick, Owen 1 ; Freeman, Jackson 2 ; Liolios, Trent 2 ; Counsell, Jack 2 ; Markinson, Bennett 3 ; Ganus, Tyler 1
HBP: McElfatrick, Owen 2 ; Markinson, Bennett 1
