Maryland returns to “The Bob” for its third Big Ten series of 2025.

They’re set to host Northwestern in a three-game set from Friday to Sunday. 

The Dirty Terps enter the series at 13-12 overall after a dramatic midweek win over George Mason pushed the team back over the .500 mark that they’ve been floating around so far this season. Maryland plated nine runs in the eighth inning to earn its comeback win over the Patriots on Tuesday.

Following last weekend’s struggles in Seattle, Maryland has a 2-4 conference record heading into this upcoming series.

Here’s what to know about the visiting Wildcats.

Northwestern Wildcats (10-12, 3-3 Big Ten)

Last Season

Northwestern finished last in the Big Ten in 2024. The Wildcats went 18-34 overall with an abysmal 4-20 record in conference play. They didn’t qualify for the Big Ten tournament.

Interestingly enough, though, half of Northwestern’s 2024 conference wins came against Maryland. The Wildcats took two out of three from the Terps in Evanston; one was a walk-off, comeback win in extras for Northwestern in the series opener, and the other was an 11-1 thumping in Saturday’s matchup.

This Season

Northwestern could only go up from its 2024 campaign.

The Wildcats started well this season, racking up five wins in their first six games. Northwestern then hit a rut, losing six in a row before leveling out as a .500 team over the last few weeks.

That .500 play is consistent in conference too. Northwestern went 1-2 in its opening Big Ten series against Penn State. The Wildcats then bounced back the next weekend against Illinois, winning two out of three against the Fighting Illini.

This weekend’s series will be Northwestern’s first road conference set of the year. 

Hitters to Watch

Junior infielder Trent Liolios is having a breakout year for the Wildcats. Liolios struggled to hit above the Mendoza Line in his first two years of collegiate ball. In 2025 though, he’s leading Northwestern with a .371 average, 1.301 OPS, .843 slugging, nine home runs, and 21 RBIs.

Also, keep an eye on outfielder Preston Knott. Nobody on the team is close to posting the gaudy numbers that Liolios has, but Knott is the team’s leader in walks and has 11 extra-base hits.

Pitchers to Watch

Sam Hliboki turned into the Wildcats’ ace after starting the season in the bullpen. The right-handed graduate student has two saves and four starts in 2025. He leads all Northwestern pitchers with 33.1 innings, and his 3.72 ERA is the lowest among the team’s weekend starters.

Fellow graduate student Blake MacMillan is Northwestern’s premier bullpen arm. The lefty has 18 strikeouts, a 1.20 WHIP and two saves in seven appearances this season.

Probable Starters

Friday, March 28: Kyle McCoy vs. Sam Hliboki

Saturday, March 29: Logan Hastings vs. Matthew Kouser

Sunday, March 30: Jake Yeager vs. Wade Crawford

Other Notable Points

Maryland enters the weekend tied for 12th in the Big Ten and has the opportunity to leapfrog Northwestern with at least two wins.

Following a year where the Terps and Wildcats both missed out on the Big Ten tournament, these are two very evenly matched teams that could certainly be in contention for the final few conference playoff slots by the time the season concludes. 

This weekend’s series winner could end up with a significant tiebreaker come May.