Under the soft glow of a full moon, Wrigley Field transformed into something almost unrecognizable. The ivy-covered walls, usually buzzing with the roar of Cubs fans, stood silent. Empty beer cans and crushed cups littered the concrete, and the grounds crew worked methodically, raking the dirt back into place as if tucking the field in for the night.

"It feels like a place you shouldn't be," said Noah Gerkey, a student radio commentator for Indiana University athletics. "Somewhere you've snuck into too late. You shouldn't be here, but somehow you are."

That was the scene on May 1st, when Northwestern Baseball hosted Indiana in the sixth edition of the 'Cats Classic. It was a bitterly cold night — the kind that settles deep in your bones and catches in your throat with every breath. Yet, fans still streamed beneath the iconic Marquee, bundled in layers and clutching hot hands against the chill.

For a Northwestern program that typically draws around 300 fans per game, the announced attendance of 2,451 felt massive. But inside the Friendly Confines, with its 41,649-seat capacity, the crowd seemed to disappear into the vast sea of green seats. Fans scattered across the stadium in small clusters — some huddling together for warmth, others sitting alone, their breath visible in the cold air.

Both Hoosier and Wildcat supporters mixed in a surprisingly cordial atmosphere. Eli Winter, a University of Chicago graduate with no allegiance to either team, made the trip on a friend's invitation. Even when that friend couldn't make it, he stayed. As snow began to dust the air, he sat 25 rows behind home plate, a lone figure in a stadium built for thousands.

"I had no dog in this fight," Winter said with a shrug. "But some nights, it's just about being here."

Outside, the streets of Wrigleyville pulsed with the usual pre-game energy — a river of pinstripe jerseys and chants echoing off the buildings. But inside, the ballpark held a quieter, more intimate version of itself. A place where dreams tangled in the ivy, waiting for spring to truly arrive.