Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Michigan
'Cats Head to Ann Arbor for Three-Game Series against Michigan
4/16/2026 11:14:00 AM | Baseball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern will take on Michigan in a three-game series this weekend in Ann Arbor. Friday's series opener is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT on B1G+, Saturday's action begins at 1 p.m. CT on B1G+ and Sunday's series finale is set for 10 a.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
The 'Cats enter the weekend series coming off a wild comeback win over UIC on Wednesday night. Northwestern used a 10-run sixth inning to erase an early deficit and rally past the Flames, 12-11, in Evanston. NU's 10-run sixth inning marked NU's most runs in a single inning since the 'Cats posted a 10-run seventh inning in a 15-4 victory over Milwaukee on April 17, 2004.
Found a way ??
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) April 15, 2026
?? runs on 9?? hits in the sixth inning?? https://t.co/uk9F4CfgdB pic.twitter.com/bMJx1PkKKt
Four Wildcats recorded multi-hit efforts in the win, including INF Noah Ruiz, who notched his team-high 13th multi-hit effort. OF Jack Lausch led all 'Cats offensively, going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, a walk, three RBI and three runs scored. RHP Sam Hliboki (3-3) entered in relief in the first inning and delivered six straight scoreless innings in relief to keep the Wildcats in the game. Hliboki departed with four runs allowed on seven hits in 7.2 innings pitched and earned his third win of the season.
Lausch leads all qualified Wildcats in batting average (.304), OPS (1.167), runs (30), hits (38), doubles (12), triples (two), home runs (eight), total bases (78), slugging percentage (.624), walks (17), on-base percentage (.396) and stolen bases (six).
Senior INF Owen McElfatrick is tied for second in Northwestern's record book with 31 career HRs. McElfatrick leads all Wildcats with 17 walks in 2026.
Ruiz has been dominant at the plate in the month of April. He is currently riding a seven-game hitting streak in which he is 13-for-31 (.419) with three doubles, two home runs and nine RBI.
LHP Jake Rifenburg leads all Wildcats with a 4.50 earned-run average in conference play. The rookie from Downers Grove, Ill., fanned a career-high six batters last weekend against Purdue.
RHP Matt Kouser turned in a quality start last weekend against Purdue, surrendering one run on four hits in 6.0 innings pitched, striking out five.
Michigan leads the all-time series 128-38 over Northwestern. NU is seeking its first series victory over the Wolverines since 2013 and its first series victory in Ann Arbor since 2012.
The Wolverines (21-15, 7-8 Big Ten) sport the sixth-lowest ERA (4.52) in the Big Ten. Senior RHP Kurt Barr leads the Big Ten in games started (14) and sports the seventh-lowest ERA (3.06) in the Big Ten among qualified pitchers. Junior infielder Colby Turner leads the conference in batting average (.399), hits (57) and ranks third in the conference in doubles (3).
Northwestern will return home for midweek games against Bradley and St. Thomas on Tuesday and Wednesday before resuming Big Ten play next weekend with a three-game set at Minnesota.
