Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, April 24
Minneapolis, Minn.
5:30 p.m. CT
Northwestern
at
Minnesota
Wildcats Visit Minnesota for Three-Game Series
4/23/2026 4:55:00 PM | Baseball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern will visit Minnesota for a three-game series this weekend in Minneapolis. Friday's series opener is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT. Saturday's action begins at 3 p.m. CT, and the finale will take place Sunday at 1 p.m. CT. All three games can be seen on B1G+.
Probable Pitchers
Friday, April 24: NU – LHP Jake Rifenburg vs. Minnesota – RHP Cole Selvig
Saturday, April 25: NU – LHP Ryan Weaver vs. Minnesota – RHP Adam Urban
Sunday, April 26: NU – RHP Matt Kouser vs. Minnesota – RHP Marcus Kruzan
On Wednesday, the 'Cats took down St. Thomas in a 15-5 run-rule victory in Evanston. It marked the 10th time Northwestern eclipsed the double-digit run mark in 2026, and its 15 runs are tied for the second-most this season. Four different Wildcats (Kucherak, Lausch, INF Owen McElfatrick and INF Noah Ruiz) tallied three RBI, which marked 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.
The Wildcats rank fifth in the Big Ten, averaging 1.37 home runs per game. Northwestern is the only team in the Big Ten to have six different players with six or more home runs on the 2026 season.
McElfatrick is currently tied for second in Northwestern's record book with 31 career HRs. This year, he ranks fourth on the team in home runs (seven) and is tied for the team lead in walks (19).
Lausch shares the team lead with Kucherak in home runs (nine), and he also leads qualified NU hitters in batting average (.315) and OPS (1.024).
Sophomore OF Logan de Groot ranks second among Wildcats in batting average (.314), going 8-for-19 over his last five games with three runs scored and a double.
Minnesota (23-17, 5-13 Big Ten) leads the all-time series 166-85-1 over Northwestern. NU has won three straight series over the Gophers in Minneapolis, dating back to 2015.
Minnesota is ranked in the top five in the Big Ten in doubles (80), home runs (53) and triples (12). The Golden Gophers have also drawn the second-most walks (235) in the conference and lead the Big Ten in steals (87). Their pitching staff sports the fourth-lowest ERA (4.40), the fifth-highest strikeout to walk ratio (2.33) and the fourth-lowest WHIP (1.28) in the conference.
Senior OF Easton Richter currently leads the Big Ten in stolen bases (17). Junior INF Jack Spanier is first in the Big Ten in triples (four) and second in walks (36).
Northwestern will return home for a midweek meeting against Milwaukee on Tuesday before hosting Indiana next weekend in a three-game series. The 'Cats will open the series against the Hoosiers Friday night at historic Wrigley Field before returning to Miller Park Saturday and Sunday to conclude the set.
Probable Pitchers
Friday, April 24: NU – LHP Jake Rifenburg vs. Minnesota – RHP Cole Selvig
Saturday, April 25: NU – LHP Ryan Weaver vs. Minnesota – RHP Adam Urban
Sunday, April 26: NU – RHP Matt Kouser vs. Minnesota – RHP Marcus Kruzan
The Wildcats (16-21-1, 5-13 Big Ten) enter the weekend series coming off midweek wins over Bradley and St. Thomas. NU blasted three homers in an 11-6 win over Bradley Tuesday in Evanston, which improved its record to 8-1 when homering three or more times on the season. INF Ryan Kucherak and OF Jack Lausch both posted three-hit efforts and slugged their team-high ninth homers of the season.Wheels up to the Twin Cities ?? pic.twitter.com/o19kSQYdb3
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) April 23, 2026
On Wednesday, the 'Cats took down St. Thomas in a 15-5 run-rule victory in Evanston. It marked the 10th time Northwestern eclipsed the double-digit run mark in 2026, and its 15 runs are tied for the second-most this season. Four different Wildcats (Kucherak, Lausch, INF Owen McElfatrick and INF Noah Ruiz) tallied three RBI, which marked 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.
The Wildcats rank fifth in the Big Ten, averaging 1.37 home runs per game. Northwestern is the only team in the Big Ten to have six different players with six or more home runs on the 2026 season.
McElfatrick is currently tied for second in Northwestern's record book with 31 career HRs. This year, he ranks fourth on the team in home runs (seven) and is tied for the team lead in walks (19).
Lausch shares the team lead with Kucherak in home runs (nine), and he also leads qualified NU hitters in batting average (.315) and OPS (1.024).
Sophomore OF Logan de Groot ranks second among Wildcats in batting average (.314), going 8-for-19 over his last five games with three runs scored and a double.
Minnesota (23-17, 5-13 Big Ten) leads the all-time series 166-85-1 over Northwestern. NU has won three straight series over the Gophers in Minneapolis, dating back to 2015.
Minnesota is ranked in the top five in the Big Ten in doubles (80), home runs (53) and triples (12). The Golden Gophers have also drawn the second-most walks (235) in the conference and lead the Big Ten in steals (87). Their pitching staff sports the fourth-lowest ERA (4.40), the fifth-highest strikeout to walk ratio (2.33) and the fourth-lowest WHIP (1.28) in the conference.
Senior OF Easton Richter currently leads the Big Ten in stolen bases (17). Junior INF Jack Spanier is first in the Big Ten in triples (four) and second in walks (36).
Northwestern will return home for a midweek meeting against Milwaukee on Tuesday before hosting Indiana next weekend in a three-game series. The 'Cats will open the series against the Hoosiers Friday night at historic Wrigley Field before returning to Miller Park Saturday and Sunday to conclude the set.
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/ BaseballBaseball - Northwestern Secures Run-Rule Victory on Walk-Off Hit By Pitch (4/22/26)
Thursday, April 23
Baseball - Six-Run Second Inning Lifts 'Cats to 11-6 Victory over Bradley (4/21/26)
Wednesday, April 22
Baseball - Comeback 'Cats Erase 7-Run Deficit in 12-11 Victory over Flames (4/14/26)
Wednesday, April 15
Baseball - Wildcats Run-Rule UIC, 15-4, in Midweek Matchup (4/8/26)
Thursday, April 09
