By Sriman Narayanan

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.

Lacrosse

Results

• 5/28: NCAA Tournament Final Four,  21-13 loss vs No. 3 Syracuse

Well, folks, it was fun while it lasted. The Wildcats’ dominant season came to a close Friday at the hands of Syracuse, who put together a performance for the ages against the Big Ten champs. Junior attacker and Tewaaraton finalist Izzy Scane was held two goals below her season average of 6.12 a game, knotting four well-placed shots that weren’t enough to deal with an Orange attack that seemed ceaseless at its peak. Meaghan Tyrrell, Scane’s competition for the nation’s best player, was spectacular in her own right, adding five goals of her own on top of three assists. 

It was an uncharacteristic afternoon for the ‘Cats, who were held to their lowest goal output of the season with 13 while simultaneously tacking on 49 fouls, their highest of the season. Despite the loss, the team has a bright future ahead– much of their core, with the exception of graduate students Lindsey McKone and Sammy Mueller, will continue next season, with seniors Lauren Gilbert and Jill Girardi having the opportunity to redeem an extra year of eligibility.

Baseball

Results

• 5/28: 13-10 loss vs Ohio State
• 5/29: 4-1 loss vs Ohio State
• 5/30: 8-2 win over Ohio State

The final score of Game One ended up looking more like a Wildcat football game than anything, but a ten-run output from the Cats was just not enough to overcome Ohio State’s 13, powered by the massive bat of Buckeye shortstop Zach Dezenzo. His two home runs and six RBIs on five at-bats proved to be too much for Northwestern’s undermanned and underwhelming pitching. All 13 runs were earned by the Buckeyes as they were just able to time up Mike Doherty, Reed Smith and Kellen Pate with ease, but the single-recorded error should be a note of highlight for the ‘Cats, who have struggled with errors bringing in unearned runs throughout the season.

Game Two was very much a complete opposite performance for both teams, as the first run scored came from a hit-by-pitch that drove in the lead-off Buckeye Mitchell Okuley. OSU was able to time it up in the second, as a solo shot from Dezenzo pulled the lead to 2-0, his third home run of the weekend. The Cats didn’t go away easily though, as right fielder Ethan O’Donnell doubled in the top of the fourth to drive in center fielder David Dunn. But that was the end of the scoring for NU, who was held scoreless for the final five innings, led by an 11 strikeout performance from Garrett Burhenn, and aided by Ethan Hammerberg, Patrick Murphy and TJ Brock. Again, the ‘Cats played clean defense, not giving up a single error.

Game Three was the final game for the Wildcat seniors, and they made a point to go out with a bang. They were able to time up their bats from the get-go, dropping five runs in the first three innings, leading 5-1 to enter the fourth. Shawn Goosenberg took a pitch yard in his first at-bat to open up the scoring, and Stephen Hrustich followed with a two-run shot of his own in the third. That was enough for the Wildcats, as they rode and extended their lead throughout the rest of the game, with the exception of the one allowed run in the seventh inning from a Kade Kern double. The game was a sweet end to a bumpy season for NU, but it also served as a fitting send-off for head coach Spencer Allen, who announced Monday that he would be stepping down from his position. The ‘Cats finished the year 15-21 but showed bright spots throughout, displaying an early-season offensive output among the best in the conference and the nation.