Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
16-21-1
St. Thomas
7-28
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Thomas | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 2 |
| Northwestern | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 15 | 12 | 0 |
Seventh-Inning Surge Propels NU to Run-Rule Victory over St. Thomas
4/22/2026 8:30:00 PM | Baseball
Northwestern's (16-21-1, 5-13 Big Ten) 15 runs tie for its second-most on the season, and mark its 10th time eclipsing the double-digit run mark in 2026. The Wildcats hit .538 (7-for-13) with runners in scoring position in the contest, including a .500 (3-for-6) mark with the bases loaded.
Four different Wildcats (INF Owen McElfatrick, OF Jack Lausch, INF Ryan Kucherak and INF Noah Ruiz) tallied three RBI, NU's first quartet with three or more RBI in the same game since April 11, 2023, against UIC, when McElfatrick, INF Trent Liolios, C/1B Alex Calarco and INF/OF Alex Roessner all recorded three RBI.
St. Thomas (7-28, 4-10 Summit) grabbed an early lead, pushing across a pair in the top of the first to take a 2-0 lead.Wear it, @Shanehofstadler ?? https://t.co/m57tGkp60l pic.twitter.com/NILSANfSvg
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) April 23, 2026
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the second, INF Owen McElfatrick put the 'Cats ahead with a bases-clearing double, giving NU a 3-2 lead after two innings.
The Tommies drew even in the top of the fourth, evening the game at three on an RBI groundout.
Northwestern used a four-run outburst in the bottom of the fourth to take a 7-3 lead, scoring four runs on four hits and one error. Kucherak put NU ahead with a two-run single, scoring a pair, Ruiz drove in a run with a bases-loaded hit by pitch and Barron stretched NU's advantage to four with a sacrifice fly, scoring Kucherak.
UST clawed back a pair in the seventh, trimming NU's advantage to 7-5 before the Wildcats exploded for eight runs to walk it off. Lausch tripled with the bases loaded to give NU a five-run cushion, Kucherak drove in Lausch with an RBI single to put NU ahead by six, Ruiz plated a pair with a two-run single and Yang drew a bases-loaded walk to put the winning run on third base. With Northwestern ahead by nine in the bottom of the seventh and the bases loaded, C Shane Hofstadler sealed the run-rule win, driving in OF Logan de Groot on a hit by pitch.
RHP Tommy Bridges (1-0) tossed 3.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk, striking out a pair.
The Wildcats return to conference action this weekend with a three-game series at Minnesota. First pitch on Friday is set for 5:30 p.m. CT, Saturday's game is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT and Sunday's finale is slated for 1 p.m. CT. All three games will be streamed on B1G+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bridges, Tommy (1-0)
L: Chris Peters (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Lucas McNell 1 ; Max Berrisfo 1 ; Zan Von Schl 1
HR: Lucas McNell 1
RBI: Easton Fritc 1 ; Joe Roder 1 ; Lucas McNell 2 ; Adam Puder 1
SH: Easton Fritc 1
SF: Joe Roder 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tanner Recch 1 ; Owen Bond 1 ; Lucas McNell 1 ; Max Berrisfo 1 ; Zan Von Schl 1
SB: Tanner Recch 2
HBP: Max Berrisfo 1 ; Zan Von Schl 1
Batting:
2B: McElfatrick, Owen 1
3B: Lausch, Jack 1
RBI: McElfatrick, Owen 3 ; Lausch, Jack 3 ; Kucherak, Ryan 3 ; Ruiz, Noah 3 ; Barron, Nick 1 ; Yang, Jake 1 ; Hofstadler, Shane 1
SH: Yang, Jake 1
SF: Barron, Nick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: McElfatrick, Owen 1 ; Lausch, Jack 2 ; Kucherak, Ryan 2 ; Freeman, Jackson 1 ; Ruiz, Noah 1 ; de Groot, Logan 1 ; Barron, Nick 1 ; Mills, Griffin 1 ; Yang, Jake 2 ; Hofstadler, Shane 3
SB: Lausch, Jack 1 ; Kucherak, Ryan 1
HBP: Ruiz, Noah 1 ; Yang, Jake 1 ; Hofstadler, Shane 2
