Friday, May 9
Chicago, Ill.
6 p.m. CT
Northwestern
22-24, 11-14
12
vs
2
Ohio State
11-34, 3-22
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Ohio State
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
2
3
0
Northwestern
0
6
1
0
0
3
2
12
11
1
Northwestern Run-Rules Ohio State in Series Opener at Wrigley Field
5/9/2025 10:38:00 PM | Baseball
CHICAGO – Northwestern run-ruled Ohio State 12-2 in seven innings to claim the series opener on Friday night at Wrigley Field.
RHP Sam Hliboki (3-3) tossed a complete game, allowing two runs on three hits in 7.0 innings pitched, striking out five. Hliboki's 7.0 innings pitched are a career-high for the graduate transfer.
The Wildcats (22-24, 11-14 Big Ten) opened the scoring with six runs in the bottom of the second to take a commanding lead early. NU loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a hit by pitch, before 2B Jacob Hand cleared them with a three-run double. LF Preston Knott hit a two-run double later in the inning to add two more, and 3B Owen McElfatrick doubled in Knott to make it 6-0.
DH Trent Liolios notched his team-high 37th RBI of the season with a base hit to center field, scoring Hand to make it 7-0 in the bottom of the third.
Ohio State (11-34, 3-22 Big Ten) tallied a pair in the top of the fifth to trim the Wildcat lead to 7-2.
The Wildcats added on in the bottom of the sixth. A bases-loaded walk by CF Jack Lausch plated Knott for the first run of the inning. McElfatrick came around to score on a wild pitch to add another. Jacob Hand notched his season-high fourth RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to score SS Ryan Kucherak, making it 10-2, Northwestern.
With a pair of runners in scoring position, Kucherak walked it off with a single through the middle, scoring Knott and McElfatrick to secure the 12-2 run-rule win.
Game Notes
The series continues on Saturday and Sunday at Miller Park, with both games scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. CT. Saturday's game is Fan Appreciation Day, with free admission and $1 hot dogs. Sunday's game is Senior Day, with festivities scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. CT.
RHP Sam Hliboki (3-3) tossed a complete game, allowing two runs on three hits in 7.0 innings pitched, striking out five. Hliboki's 7.0 innings pitched are a career-high for the graduate transfer.
The Wildcats (22-24, 11-14 Big Ten) opened the scoring with six runs in the bottom of the second to take a commanding lead early. NU loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a hit by pitch, before 2B Jacob Hand cleared them with a three-run double. LF Preston Knott hit a two-run double later in the inning to add two more, and 3B Owen McElfatrick doubled in Knott to make it 6-0.
DH Trent Liolios notched his team-high 37th RBI of the season with a base hit to center field, scoring Hand to make it 7-0 in the bottom of the third.
Ohio State (11-34, 3-22 Big Ten) tallied a pair in the top of the fifth to trim the Wildcat lead to 7-2.
The Wildcats added on in the bottom of the sixth. A bases-loaded walk by CF Jack Lausch plated Knott for the first run of the inning. McElfatrick came around to score on a wild pitch to add another. Jacob Hand notched his season-high fourth RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to score SS Ryan Kucherak, making it 10-2, Northwestern.
With a pair of runners in scoring position, Kucherak walked it off with a single through the middle, scoring Knott and McElfatrick to secure the 12-2 run-rule win.
Game Notes
- The Wildcats worked nine walks, their most in a Big Ten game since an 11-9 win on May 20, 2022 at Minnesota.
- LF Preston Knott notched his third three-hit game of the season.
- Knott scored three runs, boosting his team-high total to 38.
- 3B Owen McElfatrick recorded his team-high 16th multi-hit game of the season.
- RHP Sam Hliboki tossed the second complete game by a Wildcat this season (RHP Garrett Shearer vs. Fordham on February 23).
- Northwestern improves to 17-6 when scoring first this season.
The series continues on Saturday and Sunday at Miller Park, with both games scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. CT. Saturday's game is Fan Appreciation Day, with free admission and $1 hot dogs. Sunday's game is Senior Day, with festivities scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. CT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hliboki, Sam (3-3)
L: Erdmann, Drew (0-8)
Batting:
RBI: Lipsey, Trey 1 ; Graveline, Matthew 1
SF: Graveline, Matthew 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mineo, Sal 1 ; Bussey, Reggie 1
HBP: Eckelman, Mason 1
Batting:
2B: Knott, Preston 1 ; McElfatrick, Owen 1 ; Hand, Jacob 1
RBI: Knott, Preston 2 ; McElfatrick, Owen 1 ; Kucherak, Ryan 2 ; Lausch, Jack 1 ; Hand, Jacob 4 ; Liolios, Trent 1
SF: Hand, Jacob 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Knott, Preston 3 ; McElfatrick, Owen 2 ; Kucherak, Ryan 2 ; Lausch, Jack 1 ; Markinson, Bennett 1 ; Hand, Jacob 2 ; Ganus, Tyler 1
SB: Knott, Preston 1 ; McElfatrick, Owen 1
CS: Knott, Preston 1
HBP: Markinson, Bennett 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
2
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
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RHP
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OF
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RHP
/ BaseballBaseball - 'Cats Take Down No. 14 UCLA, 9-4 (5/15/25)
Friday, May 16
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Wednesday, May 14
Baseball - Northwestern Run-Rules Ohio State to Secure Series (5/11/25)
Sunday, May 11
Baseball - Wildcats Run-Rule Buckeyes at Wrigley Field (5/9/25)
Saturday, May 10
