The Wildcats rebounded from a slow start and won three of their first four Big Ten Conference series, but a disappointing May put them outside of the playoff picture in 2022.
Purdue starting pitcher Troy Wansing mixed his pitches well all afternoon as the Boilermakers capitalized on a quality 5.2 innings from their Sunday starter to pull out a series victory against Northwestern, 7-2.
Ethan O'Donnell broke Northwestern's single-season doubles record, the 'Cats mashed 4 opposite field home runs, and Farinelli pitched a one-run complete game to earn the Wildcats a much needed Big Ten win.
The Wildcats have lost six of their last seven conference games, tumbling to ninth in the standings and trailing Purdue by one game for the final Big Ten Tournament berth.
The bats went silent for Northwestern as the Flames caught fire at the plate and laid it on thick, beating the Wildcats 13-0 behind a patchwork 2-hit shutout from their pitching staff and 16 hits from their starting 9.
Ethan O'Donnell hit two solo home runs and Michael Farinelli gave up 1 run across 8 1/3 innings pitched as Northwestern shut down the Spartans' bats in game 2 of their Saturday doubleheader, 4-1.
Northwestern rode big days from Sean Sullivan, Bennett Markinson and Patrick Herrera to a 14-2 victory over Michigan State to get back above .500 on the season
While his wife helps fuel healthy eating habits off the field, Northwestern catcher JC Santini helps create healthy pitching habits on it and the results show as the Wildcats are 13-4 in their last 17 games.
Late inning heroics fueled the 'Cats for a second time in their series with Penn State, helping them claim 2-of-3 against the Nittany Lions after Stephen Hrustich seals a win Sunday afternoon.
The Wildcats came back from multiple deficits to edge the Nittany Lions, boosting their Big Ten record to 3-1 and their season record above .500 for the first time this year.
The Penn State Nittany Lions come into town to face the Wildcats in a 3-game weekend series at Rocky and Berenice Miller Park as Northwestern looks to build on their recent success.
