Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
2-2
Cornell
0-1
Offensive Depth Propels 'Cats over Cornell, 13-5
2/20/2026 4:11:00 PM | Baseball
The Wildcats (2-2) scored 13 runs on 14 hits, tallying 13+ runs in back-to-back games for the first time since April 2-5, 2022, against Indiana (13) and UIC (13). Northwestern's 30 runs over two games are its most in a two-game span since Feb. 26, 2005, when the Wildcats posted 37 runs in a doubleheader, defeating Mount St. Mary's (30-2) and Northeastern (7-2).
Eight different 'Cats recorded an RBI, NU's most players with an RBI in a game since May 11, 2025, vs. Ohio State (8). Additionally, eight different players recorded a hit, NU's most players with a hit in a game since a 9-4 win over No. 14 UCLA on May 15, 2025 (8).
Northwestern jumped on the Big Red immediately, with INF Owen McElfatrick driving in OF Jack Lausch with an RBI single for the game's first run.FRIDAY AFTERNOON W ?? pic.twitter.com/sLId4RM4Sz
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) February 20, 2026
Cornell (0-1) responded quickly, evening the game at one on an RBI single from OF Caden Wildman in the bottom of the first.
The Northwestern bats stayed hot in the top of the second. C Jay Slater led off with a single, and OF Carter Danz doubled for his first career hit to put runners on second and third. A pair of sacrifice flies from INF Jack Counsell and Lausch plated Slater and Danz to give NU a 3-1 lead.
After the Big Red trimmed the lead with a sacrifice fly, INF Nick Barron slugged his first career homer, a two-run blast to stretch the Wildcat lead to 5-2 in the third.
In the top of the fourth, NU extended its lead to five runs on an RBI double from Lausch and an RBI single from INF Ryan Kucherak.Nicky Barrels ??
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) February 20, 2026
Nick Barron slugged his first-career homer in today's win over Cornell! pic.twitter.com/zOIhS50VBK
Slater extended the lead in the top of the fifth, driving in a pair with a two-run triple and then scoring on a wild pitch to give NU a commanding 10-2 lead.
Cornell cut the lead to 10-5 on a two-run homer by INF Owen Carlson in the fifth and an RBI single from OF Jake Hower in the sixth.
Northwestern added three runs in the top of the eighth to extend its lead to eight. After Freeman tripled to score Kucherak, McElfatrick drove him in with a sacrifice fly to right. Later that inning, OF Logan de Groot tallied his first RBI in a Wildcat uniform, drawing a bases-loaded walk to stretch NU's lead to 13-5.
RHP Tommy Bridges slammed the door to earn his first career save in his first career appearance. Bridges tossed 3.0 scoreless innings, striking out four while allowing one hit and two walks.
In 5.0 innings pitched, RHP Sam Hliboki (1-1) earned his first win of the season, allowing four runs on six hits, striking out six, matching his most in a Northwestern uniform.
Northwestern will square off with Cornell in a rematch in game one of Saturday's doubleheader, set for 11 a.m. CT. In game two, the 'Cats will play Boston College, scheduled for approximately 3 p.m. CT. NU will close out the Hub City Invitational on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT vs. Boston College.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hliboki, Sam (1-1)
L: Carson Mayfield (0-1)
S: Bridges, Tommy (1)
Batting:
2B: Lausch, Jack 1 ; Danz, Carter 2
3B: Freeman, Jackson 1 ; Slater, Jay 1
HR: Barron, Nick 1
RBI: Lausch, Jack 2 ; Kucherak, Ryan 1 ; Freeman, Jackson 1 ; McElfatrick, Owen 2 ; Barron, Nick 2 ; Slater, Jay 2 ; de Groot, Logan 1 ; Counsell, Jack 1
SF: Lausch, Jack 1 ; McElfatrick, Owen 1 ; Counsell, Jack 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lausch, Jack 2 ; Kucherak, Ryan 1 ; Freeman, Jackson 1 ; McElfatrick, Owen 1 ; Barron, Nick 3 ; Ruiz, Noah 1 ; Slater, Jay 2 ; Danz, Carter 2
SB: Lausch, Jack 1 ; Kucherak, Ryan 1 ; McElfatrick, Owen 1
HBP: Kucherak, Ryan 1
Batting:
2B: Mason Barela 1
3B: Jayden Shin 1
HR: Owen Carlson 1
RBI: Owen Carlson 2 ; Caden Wildman 1 ; Jake Hower 2
SF: Jake Hower 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Caden Callaway 1 ; Owen Carlson 1 ; Mason Barela 1 ; TJ Swidorski 1 ; Jayden Shin 1
PO: Caden Callaway 1
