By Ryan Choe

Editor’s note: Each week, WNUR Sports recaps the news and results from the in-season, non-revenue teams that we cover in order to help our listeners and readers stay connected to the pulse of Northwestern athletics.

Baseball: 

Result(s): 

• 4/24: 1-2 loss vs Maryland
• 4/25: 7-9 loss vs Maryland
• 4/25: 4-15 loss vs Iowa
• 4/26: First pitch at 3:05 p.m. CT vs Iowa

Northwestern baseball finds itself in a four-game losing streak during their extended stay in Iowa City, Iowa. With three games scheduled in a span of two days, the ‘Cats had little time for rest as they lost two closely fought contests against Maryland before suffering their worst defeat of the season to Iowa.

In their first contest on Saturday, April 24, Northwestern came up short in a 2-1 nailbiter. The ‘Cats scored one run in the bottom of the second thanks to first-year Ethan O’Donnell, but the Terrapins countered with two of their own in the top of the third. The game remained stagnant until the end.

The following day, the ‘Cats got off to a rough start, finding themselves in a 2-4 deficit after two innings. However, two runs scored in the top of the fourth from an O’Donnell homer to left field and an RBI single from junior Shawn Goosenberg tied the game. The following inning, junior Michael Trautwein and redshirt junior David Dunn were brought home by O’Donnell on a two-RBI single to give Northwestern a 6-4 lead. But, the Terrapins scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to reclaim the lead. The Terrapins tacked on the two more runs in the bottom of the seventh to essentially secure the game despite getting out-hit by the ‘Cats 9-12. 

Less than an hour after their second game against Maryland, Northwestern scrambled to prepare for Iowa. The Wildcats outscored the Hawkeyes in the first inning as junior Anthony Calarco led off the game with a walk and scored on a sacrifice fly by Trautwein. However, this would be one of the few bright spots for the ‘Cats as Iowa feasted off Northwestern pitchers Quinn Lavelle, Jack Pagliarini, Kellen Pate and Anthony Alepra. 

Northwestern baseball looks to right the ship with one last game against the Hawkeyes in Iowa City at 3:05 p.m. CT today before returning to Evanston for a weekend pod of games against Michigan and Illinois.

Softball:

Result(s): 

• 4/23: 4-1 win over Michigan
• 4/24: 2-7 loss at Michigan 
• 4/24: 3-6 loss at Michigan
• 4/25: 0-2 loss at Michigan

After taking 3-of-4 from Iowa in Iowa City, Northwestern struggled against 20th-ranked Michigan this past weekend. The ‘Cats got off to a great start, seizing the first game against the Wolverines Friday evening. Junior Danielle Williams continued her amazing season by allowing just two hits the entire game and striking out six Wolverines en route to her 13th win of the season.

In game one of Saturday afternoon, junior Maeve Nelson put the Wildcats ahead 2-1 with a two-run homer in the top of the fourth. However, Michigan responded with four runs scored in the bottom of the same inning to decisively reclaim the lead. Two more runs in the bottom of the sixth by the Wolverines gave them a 7-2 victory. Not long after the conclusion of game one, the ‘Cats were back on the field. Junior Jordyn Rudd continued her successful weekend with an RBI double in the top of the first and a two-run homer in the top of the third to give the team a 3-1 lead. However, these would be the last runs in the game for the Wildcats, as a combined five runs scored by Michigan in the final two innings secured a second Michigan win.

On Sunday afternoon, both teams found themselves in a heated pitching duel in the series finale. However, Michigan emerged as the victor once again. Graduate student Morgan Newport turned in a solid performance, striking out five batters in five innings of work. Besides a two-run homer in the third inning, Newport only allowed three baserunners. Williams continued her dominant season, recording the final two outs for the ‘Cats. She now has a team-low 1.68 ERA.  

Softball returns home to Evanston to host Illinois for a four-game series this weekend with game one starting at 3 p.m. on Friday at Sharon J. Drysdale Field.

Field Hockey:

Result(s): 

• 4/21: 2-1 win over Rutgers
• 4/22: 1-2 loss vs Ohio State

Northwestern women’s field hockey entered last week’s Big Ten conference tournament as the No. 3 seed after finishing 5-3 in conference play. The team ground out a tough win over a formidable No. 6 seed Rutgers last Wednesday evening. However, after supposedly catching a break after No. 2 seed Penn State lost to No. 7 seed Ohio State, the ‘Cats were upset in the semifinal match to the tenacious Ohio State program. The Buckeyes proved no match in the championship match against No. 1 seed Michigan, who finished its regular season undefeated in Big Ten matches (13-2 overall). The Wolverines won 4-0 and moved one step closer to a national championship.

The ‘Cats have a few days to prepare for the NCAA D1 Field Hockey Tournament before they face Delaware in the first round on Friday, April 30 at 2 p.m. CT. in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Women’s Golf:

Result(s): 

• 4/23 – 4/25: Big Ten Championship: 5th of 13 teams

Northwestern women’s golf entered the conference tournament at TPC River’s Bend in Maineville, Ohio, with high hopes as the second-highest nationally ranked team in the competition (#21) behind Maryland (#19). The team collected top-five team finishes in four of their six regular-season tournaments. After the first two days, the ‘Cats stood at fourth but fell the one spot the final day. Of the six golfers who made the trip, four placed in the top 25. 

Sophomore Irene Kim, the 22nd-ranked player in the country, continued her impressive season, finishing as the individual runner-up in a field of 78 players at -6 for the tournament. Junior Kelly Sim was not far behind, tying for ninth at -1. First-year Jennifer Cai tied for 24th alongside graduate student teammate Brooke Riley at +6.

Assuming the team is selected to participate in the chase for the NCAA D1 championship, the ‘Cats will spend the next two weeks preparing for the NCAA Regionals May 10 through May 12, with hopes of punching their ticket to the NCAA Championships at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, hosted by Arizona State University from May 21 through May 26.

Men’s Golf:

Result(s): 

• 4/24 – 4/25: Robert Kepler Intercollegiate: T-7th of 17 teams

It was a positive week for men’s golf as the team gained some much-needed momentum a week before the Big Ten Championship tournament. Playing at the Scarlet Course of Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, over the weekend, the ‘Cats saw themselves rise as far as first place after the first round of play. But after each subsequent round, the ‘Cats fell a bit more, dropping to third place after the second round and finishing tied for seventh in the final standings after three rounds of competition. 

Sophomore John Driscoll III tied for second at -1, his best career finish, and was just one of three players to finish the tournament under par. Graduate student Varun Chopra tied for 25th at +7 to give the ‘Cats two golfers in the top 25. 

The ‘Cats now turn their attention to the Big Ten Championship Tournament at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Indiana, beginning April 30. 

Lacrosse

Upcoming Schedule: 

• 4/30: Big Ten Tournament, Opponent TBD at 5 p.m. ET on BTN

The second-ranked women’s lacrosse team in the country is enjoying nearly two weeks of rest, recovery and game preparation after defeating Michigan last Sunday to clinch an undefeated regular season (11-0). Head Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller looks to add an eighth championship to her already first-ballot Hall-of-Fame coaching career, which would tie the legendary Cindy Timchal for the most championships in a coaching career. Additionally, Northwestern had three athletes announced in the Top-25 nominees for the Tewaaraton Award, which is awarded to the best NCAA lacrosse players of the season. The nominees include senior Lauren Gilbert, graduate student Lindsay McKone and junior Izzy Scane.

The focus is now on the Big Ten Championship Tournament hosted at Penn State University’s Panzer Stadium, where the No. 1 seed ‘Cats will play their first game of the tournament in the semifinal round on Friday, April 30. They will face the winner of the quarterfinal matchup between No. 4 seed Rutgers (5-7) and No. 5 seed Ohio State (4-8). The championship game is scheduled for noon ET on May 2.

Women’s Tennis

Upcoming Schedule: 

• 4/30: Big Ten Conference Tournament, Opponent TBD at 1 p.m. ET

It’s also time for postseason play for Northwestern women’s tennis as the 18th-ranked team in the country prepares for the conference tournament from April 28 through May 2 at the University of Wisconsin’s Nielsen Tennis Stadium. Despite losing the last two regular-season matches to Michigan and Illinois, the ‘Cats finished in third place (17-4) in the conference and received double-round byes in the tournament along with No. 1 seed Ohio State, No. 2 seed Michigan and No. 4 seed Iowa. Northwestern will face one of No. 11 seed Minnesota, No. 14 seed Indiana or No. 6 seed Penn State in the quarterfinal round on April 30 at 1 p.m. ET. The championship game is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on May 2.

Men’s Tennis

Upcoming Schedule: 

• 4/30: Big Ten Conference Tournament, Opponent TBD at 11 a.m. ET

Northwestern men’s tennis will travel to the University of Nebraska’s Sid and Hazel Dillon Tennis Center for its conference tournament April 29 through May 2. The ‘Cats finished in second place in the West division (12-6) behind Illinois and will face the victor from No. 3 seed Penn State and No. 6 seed Nebraska on April 30 at 11 a.m. ET in the quarterfinals. The championship game is slated for noon ET on May 2.