Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, April 3
Evanston, Ill.
3 p.m. CT
Northwestern
10-15-1, 0
1
vs
5
Michigan State
10-17, 0
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
8th innning8
9th innning9
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Michigan State
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
1
0
5
11
0
Northwestern
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
5
0
Northwestern Stifled by Spartans in Series Opener
4/3/2026 6:14:00 PM | Baseball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern dropped the series opener, 5-1, to Michigan State on Friday afternoon at Miller Park.
INF Owen McElfatrick posted his sixth multi-hit game of the season, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
LHP Jake Rifenburg (2-2) offered a strong showing in his first career start, surrendering two runs on four hits in 5.1 innings pitched, punching out five.
Northwestern (10-15-1, 3-7 Big Ten) got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI double by McElfatrick, scoring C Jay Slater to make it 5-1.
Game two of the weekend series is set for 1 p.m. CT on Saturday afternoon. RHP Matt Kouser is scheduled to get the start for the 'Cats, with RHP Carter Monke slated to start for MSU.
INF Owen McElfatrick posted his sixth multi-hit game of the season, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
LHP Jake Rifenburg (2-2) offered a strong showing in his first career start, surrendering two runs on four hits in 5.1 innings pitched, punching out five.
After five scoreless innings from each starting pitcher, Michigan State (10-17, 5-8 Big Ten) broke through in the top of the sixth, scoring a pair on a two-run double from OF Isaac Sturgess to take a 2-0 lead. The Spartans added two more in the seventh and one in the eighth to stretch their lead to 5-0.
Northwestern (10-15-1, 3-7 Big Ten) got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI double by McElfatrick, scoring C Jay Slater to make it 5-1.
Game two of the weekend series is set for 1 p.m. CT on Saturday afternoon. RHP Matt Kouser is scheduled to get the start for the 'Cats, with RHP Carter Monke slated to start for MSU.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Donovan,Aidan (2-2)
L: Rifenburg, Jake (2-2)
Batting:
2B: Murphy,Dayton 1 ; McKay,Ryan 2 ; Williams,Nick 1
RBI: Rice,Trent 1 ; Sturgess,Isaac 2 ; McKay,Ryan 1 ; Williams,Nick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Thomas,Khamaree 1 ; Murphy,Dayton 1 ; Seymour,Randy 1 ; Deckinga,CJ 1 ; Williams,Nick 1
SB: Rice,Trent 1
CS: Sturgess,Isaac 1
HBP: Thomas,Khamaree 1
PO: Sturgess,Isaac 1
Batting:
2B: McElfatrick, Owen 1 ; Lausch, Jack 1
RBI: McElfatrick, Owen 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Slater, Jay 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballC
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