North Cook News

Northwestern to Battle Butler

 Northwestern baseball continues their road slate this weekend as they take on the Butler Bulldogs in a two-game series on Sunday and Monday.
 
The first of the matchups will be Sunday afternoon, with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m. CT. Monday's game will begin at noon CT.
 
The 'Cats (0-12) return to action for the first time in more than a week after taking on Saint Louis last weekend. Northwestern was swept in a double-header against the Billikens on Friday before Saturday's game was canceled due to weather.
 
Despite the losses, Northwestern's power began to pick up on Friday. Griffin Arnone hit a leadoff home run in game one, his second home run in as many games and his third of the year. The graduate student now leads all 'Cats with nine RBI this season. Stephen Hrustich took over in game two, hitting his first home run of the year in the first inning of that game. 
 
Sophomore Alex Calarco also continued to heat up. He went 1-for-4 with a walk in game one before going 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored in game two. Calarco leads qualifying 'Cats with a .273 batting average through the first 12 games of the season and has collected four doubles and five RBI in that time.
 
As a team, Northwestern has depended on the double thus far. The roster boasts four players with four or more doubles this year, contributing to a team average of 2.33 doubles-per-game, which ranks second in the Big Ten and 39th in the NCAA. Leading that charge for the 'Cats has been Trent Liolios, who has hit five doubles in just ten games. That rate is good for third in the conference and 32nd in the nation for the first-year.
 
Butler (2-14) leads the all-time series 2-1 against Northwestern. The programs last met in March of last season for a neutral site matchup that the 'Cats won 13-3. Michael Farinelli pitched a seven-inning complete game before Northwestern won by run rule.
  

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