Baseball: Northwestern drops series to Washington to finish off its West Coast trip

Northwestern entered a pivotal Big Ten series having lost five of its last seven and badly needed a series win to turn its season around. However, a lack of clutch time hitting and pitching ensured another series loss as the ‘Cats (9-14-1, 3-6 B1G) lost two of three games to Washington (12-15, 6-6 B1G) to close out its West Coast trip. ​Game 1: Northwestern 2, Washington 7 The series started off with a bang as Northwestern’s Owen McElfatrick hit a home run in the first at-bat of the first game.

NU’s leadoff man, not known for his power, provided a spark that gave the Wildcats an early jolt. Leadoff OMac Jack! 💥 pic.

twitter. com/i1m86yWqXF — Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) March 28, 2026 It didn’t last. Washington responded immediately as a leadoff walk given up by Northwestern starter Garrett Shearer preceded three straight Husky singles.

Washington’s Daniel Porras then stole home, and Northwestern trailed 3-1 after the first inning. Things seemingly calmed down from there as a second-inning pitching change by the ‘Cats, bringing in first-year Jake Rifenburg, stranded a Husky runner at third, so neither team scored in the second inning. Yet, in the bottom of the third, Rifenburg lost control of the game and surrendered a single, hit a Washington batter and allowed a bases-clearing triple without recording an out.