MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois dropped its series opener to Oakland, 4-1, in a rain-shortened game, Friday, April 30. Inclement weather forced two delays in the game before forcing the contest to be called after six complete innings.
Oakland nearly scored first in the contest, but Rich Mascheri threw out a runner at the plate for an inning-ending double play in the top of the first inning.
The Fighting Leathernecks (9-29, 2-11 Summit) took a 1-0 lead on Anthony Kaskadden's solo homer to left center in the bottom of the third inning. It was Kaskadden's third home run of the season.
The Golden Grizzlies (11-24, 4-8 Summit) responded with two runs in the top of the fourth when a fielding error by Chris Macek would allow two runs to score, giving Oakland a 2-0 lead.
Oakland would tack on two more runs in the fifth on a two-run single bu D.J. Jarrad to stretch the lead to 4-1. The Leathernecks would challenge in the bottom of the inning by loading the bases with two outs, but Dan Dispensa struck out to end the inning.
The game would come to a halt after the sixth inning as rain began to fall, but would resume again in the top of the seventh. Neither team was able to score before lightning brought play to a halt with the Leathernecks up to bat and a man on in the bottom of the inning.
After a 45-minute delay, umpires called the game due to impending weather and increasing darkness. The total time of both delays was one hour and seven minutes.
Macek (2-5) took the loss, allowing two unearned runs in 3.2 innings of work. He walked two and struck out two.
Kyle Teague (4-4) picked up the win, allowing just one run on five hits in six innings pitched. He walked just one and struck out seven.
The Golden Grizzlies outhit the Leathernecks by a 8-to-5 margin and committed one error to Western's four. Kaskadden was the only Leatherneck batter with multiple hits as he was 2-for-2, including the home run.
Mascheri went 1-for-3, extending his hitting streak to nine games with a lead-off single in the fifth inning. Cole Waddell and Chris Giglio each picked up a hit in the contest
Western Illinois and Oakland resume their four-game series with a doubleheader beginning at 12 noon tomorrow, Saturday, May 1 before concluding the weekend tilt with a single game on Sunday.
