Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Cami Henry/Northwestern Athletics
Kucherak, Lausch Earn All-Big Ten Honors
5/19/2026 11:00:00 AM | Baseball
ROSEMONT, Ill. – INF Ryan Kucherak and OF Jack Lausch were both named Third Team All-Big Ten, the conference announced on Tuesday. Northwestern's two All-Big Ten selections mark its first season with multiple All-Big Ten selections since 2022.
INF Ryan Kucherak earns All-Big Ten honors for the first time in his two seasons in Evanston, and he is the first All-Big Ten shortstop out of Northwestern since Jack Dunn was named to the First Team in 2019. Kucherak finished the season tied for second on the team in batting average (.295), doubles (13) and RBI (39). He also led the Wildcats in walks (27) and set single-game career highs in hits (four at Oregon on 3/22), RBI (four vs. Valparaiso on 3/31) and stolen bases (two at Washington on 3/28).
With 10 home runs on the season, Kucherak's career home run count rose to 28, which is tied for fifth in NU program history after just two years at Northwestern. Kucherak is the first Wildcat to record double-digit home runs in consecutive seasons since Stephen Hrustich did so in 2021-22.
INF Ryan Kucherak earns All-Big Ten honors for the first time in his two seasons in Evanston, and he is the first All-Big Ten shortstop out of Northwestern since Jack Dunn was named to the First Team in 2019. Kucherak finished the season tied for second on the team in batting average (.295), doubles (13) and RBI (39). He also led the Wildcats in walks (27) and set single-game career highs in hits (four at Oregon on 3/22), RBI (four vs. Valparaiso on 3/31) and stolen bases (two at Washington on 3/28).
With 10 home runs on the season, Kucherak's career home run count rose to 28, which is tied for fifth in NU program history after just two years at Northwestern. Kucherak is the first Wildcat to record double-digit home runs in consecutive seasons since Stephen Hrustich did so in 2021-22.
OF Jack Lausch earns All-Big Ten honors for the first time, after leading all Wildcats in batting average (.312), on-base percentage (.393), slugging percentage (.653), runs (52), hits (63), triples (4), home runs (16), runs batted in (41) and total bases (132). Lausch's 16 home runs and 132 total bases this season both rank second in program history. He is the first Wildcat to lead the team in batting average and home runs since Shawn Goosenberg in 2021.ALL-BIG TEN ??@Ryankucherak receives Third Team All-Big Ten recognition! pic.twitter.com/cU81xuEuC9
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) May 19, 2026
Lausch was also selected as Northwestern's Sportsmanship Award recipient. Earlier this season, he was voted by his teammates as the recipient of the Paul Stevens Life Teammate Award. The Paul Stevens Life Teammate Award is presented annually to the Northwestern baseball senior who best embodies the spirit of a Life Teammate - a leader on the field, in the locker room and in the community. As the recipient of the 2026 Paul Stevens Life Teammate Award, Lausch wore #13 for the 2026 season, commemorating the life of Will Trautwein, son of former Northwestern Baseball player John Trautwein and brother of former Wildcat Michael Trautwein.ALL-BIG TEN ??
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) May 19, 2026
Jack Lausch earns Third Team All-Big Ten honors! pic.twitter.com/QQPVy09zBm
Players Mentioned
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