Northwestern
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Western Michigan
Wildcats Close Homestand against Western Michigan
3/24/2025 5:00:00 PM | Baseball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern closes out its seven-game homestand with a matchup against Western Michigan on Tuesday, March 25 at 3 p.m. CT on B1G+.
Last weekend, Northwestern (10-11, 3-3 Big Ten) took two of three games from in-state rival Illinois for its first conference series win of 2025. The Wildcats walked off the Fighting Illini for a 5-4 win in the series opener, before falling 11-6 in game two of Friday's doubleheader. On Saturday, the Wildcats run-ruled Illinois 14-4 to take the series.
Northwestern ranks 10th nationally and second in the Big Ten in fielding percentage (.983). In 2024, Northwestern led the Big Ten and ranked 10th nationally in fielding percentage (.980), committing just 37 errors on 1,847 chances.
Over its first 21 games, Northwestern's pitching staff has held opponents to four or fewer hits on four occasions, its most in a season since 2019. Northwestern is 6-0 this season when holding its opponent to three or fewer runs.
INF Ryan Kucherak went 6-for-13 on the weekend, slashing .462/.500/1.231 with three homers, a double, four RBI, five runs, and a walk. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth and the game tied at four in Friday's series opener, Kucherak hit a walk-off double to right-center, scoring OF Jackson Freeman to give the 'Cats a 5-4 win. He followed that up with three home runs in game two of Friday's doubleheader, joining INF Trent Liolios as the only Wildcat teammates to record three-homer games in the same season since at least 2016.
INF Trent Liolios has been on fire to start the 2025 campaign, leading all Wildcats in batting average (.379), on-base percentage (.468), slugging percentage (.864), home runs (9), runs batted in (21), and runs scored (18). Liolios ranks in the top four in the Big Ten in slugging percentage (first, .864), on-base plus slugging percentage (second, 1.332), and home runs (fourth, 9). The Newport Beach, Calif. native ranks 12th nationally in slugging percentage (.864). Liolios has recorded multiple hits in nine of his 19 starts this season.
INF Owen McElfatrick has reached base safely in 15 straight games. In 20 games this season, McElfatrick is slashing .315/.414/.452 with seven doubles.
LHP Blake MacMillan earned the win in Friday's 5-4 victory over Illinois. MacMillan allowed two hits and two walks, striking out a pair in 2.2 scoreless innings of work. MacMillan has thrown 15.0 consecutive scoreless innings out of the bullpen. The graduate transfer ranks seventh in the Big Ten in batting average against, with opponents hitting just .194 against the Mississauga, Ontario native.
Northwestern is 15-27-2 all-time against Western Michigan, and the two teams have not met since 2018. The Broncos (5-16, 4-5 MAC) have won four in a row, sweeping conference foe Akron after defeating Michigan in a midweek contest. LHP Reese Gaber earned MAC Pitcher of the Week honors on Monday, tossing 6.0 shutout innings in the 6-0 win at Michigan.
Northwestern is set to resume Big Ten play this weekend with a three-game series at Maryland. First pitch on Friday is set for 5 p.m. CT. Saturday's game is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT. Sunday's series finale is slated for 12 p.m. CT. All three games can be streamed on B1G+.
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