Northwestern University Athletics

2026 Baseball Roster

Northwestern Baseball
Matthew Kouser
October 17, 2024, Normal, IL: A game between Northwestern Baseball and Illinois State at Duffy Bass Field in Normal, IL on Thursday, October 17, 2024. (Photo by Dale Erickson/Northwestern Athletics)
Photo by: Dale Erickson/Northwestern Athletics
Matt Kouser
Jersey Number 26

Matt Kouser

  • Height:
    6-6
  • Weight:
    230
  • Position:
    RHP
  • Class:
    Sophomore
  • Hometown:
    Haddonfield, N.J.
  • High School:
    St. Augustine Prep

Career Highs:
Innings Pitched…………………6.0, last vs. Fordham (2/23/25)
Strikeouts………………………...................6, vs. UNLV (3/8/26 at Minneapolis, MN)
Fewest Hits Allowed (min. 5 IP)......2, at Long Beach State (2/16/25)
Fewest Earned Runs Allowed (min. 5 IP)......1, at Long Beach State (2/16/25)

2026: Did not allow an earned run in his season debut against Rice (2/13) … Earned his first win of the year after working 3.0 innings with just one earned run and one hit against Rice (2/15) … Worked 5.0 innings and allowed two earned runs and three hits while striking out five batters against Boston College (2/22) … Allowed just one earned run in 4.0 innings of work with a career-high six strikeouts against UNLV (3/8) … Worked 4.1 scoreless innings with two strikeouts and just one hit against No. 25 USC (3/14) … Tossed 5.0 innings and allowed just two earned runs with five strikeouts against No. 21 Oregon (3/22) … Set a season high in innings pitched (6.0) and struck out five batters while allowing just one earned run on four hits against Purdue (4/11).

2025: Appeared 15 times, making a team-high 14 starts and tossing 61.2 IP in his rookie campaign… Threw 6.0 innings of one run ball to earn a quality start and a win in his collegiate debut against Long Beach State (2/16)... Tossed a second consecutive quality start and earned another win against Fordham, striking out three over 6.0 innings (2/23)... Notched 5.0 innings while allowing three runs against #17 Duke (3/1)... Struck out two over 1.2 perfect innings against Western Michigan (3/25)... Worked 5.0 innings of one run ball in a win over Iowa (4/6)... Tossed 5.1 innings of three run ball against Michigan State while striking out a pair (4/13)... Earned his fourth win of the season for 2.1 innings of work against Washington (4/27)... Tossed 4.0 innings and picked up three strikeouts against Purdue (5/2)... Worked 3.0 perfect innings in a start against Valparaiso, striking out three (5/13).


High School: Attended St. Augustine Prep for high school…Ranked the No. 14 player in New Jersey and No. 7 RHP by Perfect Game…Led St. Augustine to a 2024 Non-Public A State Championship as a senior.

Why Northwestern: "The coaching staff and the family component of the team."

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
Baseball - 'Cats Clinch Series with 8-6 Victory over MSU (4/5/26)
Sunday, April 05
Baseball - McElfatrick Walks off MSU to Even Series (4/4/26)
Saturday, April 04