Baseball Weekend Recap: Northwestern falters against No. 17 Duke, gets swept in three-game series

NU baseball got off to a hot start, but it might not be ready for the big leagues just yet.

The dream had to end at some point.

Northwestern baseball got off to its best start in over a decade, winning five of its first six games. That included dominance from the mound that looked completely foreign to anyone who watched a Northwestern team last year with one of the worst statistical power conference pitching staffs.

After dropping their first power conference game last Monday, Feb. 24 against Indiana in Cary, North Carolina, the ‘Cats returned to the Tar Heel State to face off against No. 17 Duke. Talk about a major test to see just how “new and improved” this squad was.

The start to the series’ opening game proved to be an offensive battle. Crawford Wade got the start, but gave up three runs to the Blue Devils in the first inning. Northwestern’s bats had his back however, scoring four runs that spurred a 4-3 lead.

Wade performed admirably in his remaining three innings, allowing no more runs and just two more hits. On the other end, Duke’s starter Kyle Johnson similarly settled in, and scoring suddenly came to a standstill.

Where the problems arose again came in relief. After Wade came out to start the fifth inning, Duke’s bats were revived, forcing four different Northwestern pitchers to come in. The Blue Devils scored 11 runs over the following two innings, putting the game completely out of reach. An eighth-inning single from shortstop Ryan Kucherak provided some solace, but it was a lost cause as the ‘Cats dropped the first of three, 14-5.

Coming into the second game, Northwestern knew it had the firepower to compete with Duke, but had to shore up the pitching woes from the past contest. Star right fielder Jackson Freeman set the tone early with a two-run blast in the top of the first. Ben Miller responded for Duke, smashing a solo shot.

NU’s pedal did not come off the gas, as leadoff hitter Preston Knott knocked one over the right field fence and pushed Northwestern’s lead to 4-1 through just two innings.

Northwestern starter Matthew Kouser remained solid through the first four, but began to wane in the fifth, eventually allowing two runners to score off a double that rocketed down the first base line. Sam Hliboki came in relief, but Duke’s offense came through again, as Miller added onto a big day with a two-run single in the seventh, giving the Blue Devils their first lead of the game.

Following a hot start, Northwestern’s bats struggled against Duke’s relievers, and an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth put the ‘Cats in a tough position entering the top of ninth. Down to the final out, Owen McElfatrick made things interesting with an RBI single, but it wasn’t enough as Kucherak struck out swinging and the Wildcats dropped game two 6-5.

After a tough pair of games, Northwestern looked for anything to come away with from their trip east. Once again, hitting was good early for the ‘Cats, as they got the bases loaded in the top of the first before Kucherak’s walk gave them an early 1-0 lead.

That lead was short-lived, as the Blue Devils came to bring out the brooms. Duke’s bats shelled starter Carter Danz, forcing coach Ben Greenspan to make a call to the bullpen before he Danz even recorded an out. An early seven runs from Duke put the game away practically before it had even started.

A four-run seventh from Duke only added insult to injury, but Kucherak claimed a good day for himself, earning another RBI on a single in the top of the eighth. Nonetheless, the ‘Cats dropped the series finale 11-2.

Northwestern gets a shot at redemption next weekend, as it heads slightly further south to Charleston, South Carolina for a four-game bout against The Citadel Mar. 7-9.