Northwestern
6-8
The Citadel
9-7
Northwestern Surges past Bulldogs 10-7 in Series Finale
3/9/2025 10:22:00 PM | Baseball
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Northwestern closed out its four-game series at The Citadel with a 10-7 victory on Sunday afternoon at Joseph J. Riley, Jr. Park to split the series.
OF Preston Knott led off the game with a solo home run to right field, his second of the season to put NU up 1-0. INF Owen McElfatrick followed that up with a double, advanced to third on a single by OF Jackson Freeman, and came across to score on a double play to double NU's early advantage.'CATS WIN! ?? pic.twitter.com/lj2QUQyjDM
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) March 9, 2025
The Citadel got one run back on a solo home run in the bottom of the first to trim the NU lead to 3-1.
NU's offense picked up where it left off in the top of the second, plating three runs on three hits, an error, a walk, and a hit by pitch. OF Jack Lausch scored INF Jack Counsell with an RBI single. After stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch, Lausch came across on a double by Knott. Jackson Freeman capped off the scoring in the inning with an RBI single, scoring Knott to put Northwestern up 5-1.
In the bottom of the second, INF Phillips Daniels cleared the bases with a three-run double, cutting the Wildcat lead to one.
After both offenses quieted down for a few innings, INF Trent Liolios homered for the second straight day, bringing his season tally to four, to extend NU's lead. OF Marty Kaplan singled to right field to push the Wildcat lead to 7-4 after the top of the fifth.
The Bulldogs loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth and pushed one across on a hit by pitch to make it a 7-5 ballgame. With the bases loaded, RHP Jack Grunkemeyer entered from the bullpen and induced a fielder's choice to preserve the lead.
In the top of the sixth, INF Trent Liolios singled to wright, scoring INF Vince Bianchina for his second RBI of the day to extend NU's lead to 8-5. NU continued to add on with a pair in the top of the seventh. INF Jack Counsell opened the inning with a triple, followed by an RBI double by Lausch. Lausch came around to score on a single by Knott to stretch the Wildcat lead to 10-5.
The Citadel added a pair in the bottom of the seventh, taking advantage of two hit batsmen, a single, and a sacrifice fly to make it 10-7.
RHP Alex Grant entered for the 'Cats in the bottom of the eighth and worked two scoreless innings to earn his first career save. In 2.0 innings pitched, Grant allowed just one walk, striking out one batter.
RHP Christian Forniss (1-0) earned his first career win, working 2.0 innings, allowing one run on zero hits, walking two.
The Wildcats will return home for an eight-game homestand. Northwestern's home opener is set for Tuesday, March 11 at 3:30 p.m. CT against Illinois State on B1G+. The 'Cats will open Big Ten play next weekend with a three-game series against Penn State at Miller Park.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Forniss, Christian (1-0)
L: Ben Brash (1-2)
S: Grant, Alex (1)
Batting:
2B: Knott, Preston 1 ; McElfatrick, Owen 1 ; Bianchina, Vince 1 ; Markinson, Bennett 1 ; Lausch, Jack 1
3B: Counsell, Jack 1
HR: Knott, Preston 1 ; Liolios, Trent 1
RBI: Knott, Preston 3 ; Freeman, Jackson 1 ; Liolios, Trent 2 ; Kaplan, Marty 1 ; Lausch, Jack 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Knott, Preston 2 ; McElfatrick, Owen 1 ; Bianchina, Vince 1 ; Liolios, Trent 1 ; Kucherak, Ryan 1 ; Counsell, Jack 2 ; Lausch, Jack 2
SB: Lausch, Jack 1
HBP: McElfatrick, Owen 1 ; Bianchina, Vince 1
PO: Knott, Preston 1
Batting:
2B: Phillips Daniels 1
HR: Garrett Dill 1
RBI: Phillips Daniels 3 ; Garrett Dill 1 ; Thomas Rollauer 1 ; Lane Tobin 1 ; Landon Kahl 1
SF: Landon Kahl 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Phillips Daniels 1 ; Garrett Dill 1 ; Thomas Rollauer 1 ; Garrett Fulmer 1 ; Lane Tobin 1 ; Landon Kahl 1 ; Maddox Floyd 1
SB: Thomas Rollauer 1
HBP: Travis Elliott 1 ; Thomas Rollauer 2 ; Garrett Fulmer 1
