MACOMB, Ill. – The Western Illinois baseball team will open Summit League play this weekend as it plays host to North Dakota State in a four-game series beginning at 3:30 p.m. Friday, April 9 at Alfred D. Boyer Stadium.
The Fighting Leathernecks (7-16) will take the field for the first time since a 7-4 win over Culver Stockton Monday, April 5. Western was set to face Iowa and Clarke College in midweek matchups, but inclement weather forced the postponement of both games.
The game against Clarke has been rescheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 28. A makeup date for the Iowa game has not yet been scheduled.
The Bison (8-13) enter the weekend after dropping three of four games to North Dakota earlier this week. North Dakota State dropped both games of a doubleheader against the Fighting Sioux Sunday, April 4 before splitting a twin bill Monday, April 5.
Western Illinois vs. North Dakota State
When: April 9-11
Friday, April 9: 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 10: 12 noon (DH)
Sunday, April 11: 12 noon
Location: Macomb, Ill.
Field: Alfred D. Boyer Stadium
Coverage
Radio
• Rocky Vision
Friday
Matt Fischer, play-by-play
Dylan Webster,
color analyst
Live Rocky Vision radio broadcast (Free)
Saturday
Matt Fischer, play-by-play
Ryan Bower,
color analyst
Live Rocky Vision radio broadcast (Free)
Sunday
Patrick Osterman, play-by-play
Ryan Bower,
color analyst
Live Rocky Vision radio broadcast (Free)
Live Stats • www.GoLeathernecks.com (Free)
Television
• wiutv3 (channel 3, Macomb) Flagship station
Friday
Jacob Schuette, play-by-play
Aarick Woods,
color analyst
Live
via RockyVision (Subscription)
Saturday
Derek Diesner, play-by-play
Jeff Cole,
color analyst
Live
via RockyVision (Subscription)
Sunday
Austin Hopkins, play-by-play
Sam Bryers,
color analyst
Live
via RockyVision (Subscription)
2010 record: 8-13
Series: Western leads 12-4
Last: May 10, 2009; WIU lost 7-13 at Fargo, N.D.
Head
Coach: Tod Brown
Alma
Mater, Year: Arizona, 1994
School record: 39-71 (2nd)
Career record: Same
Leatherneck Notes
Against NDSU: The series
The
Leathernecks hold a 12-4 advantage in the series history against the Bison, but North Dakota State has won three of the last four meetings between the two schools.
Western's last victory in the series came in a 12-8 win over the Bison in Fargo on May 9, 2009. North Dakota State took three of four games from the Leathernecks last season while Western Illinois took three of four during the 2008 campaign.
Against NDSU: The last meeting
The
last meeting between the Bison and the Leathernecks took place May 10, 2009 in Fargo where North Dakota State came away with 13-7 victory.
Dan Johnson and Tyler Metcalf led Western as each player finished the game with two hits and two RBI. Andrew Hagins was 2-for-3 with a home run and three runs scored.
North Dakota State trailed 6-4 before rallying for eight runs in the fifth inning. The Bison outhit the Leathernecks by a 15-to-12 margin and Western committed two errors in the contest.
Chris Fuchs took the loss on the mound, allowing five runs on three hits in two-thirds of a inning pitched.
Lilja ranked nationally
Sophomore outfielder Tom Lilja entered this week ranked in the top 30 nationally in batting average. Lilja was batting .442 when the NCAA statistics rankings were released Sunday, April 4. Lilja's average dropped to .429 after going 1-for-5 in a 7-4 win over Culver Stockton Monday, April 5 but he was able to extend his current hit streak to 10 games.
The current streak marks the second time this season that Lilja has hit in 10 or more games in a row. He began the season on a 12 game hitting streak dating back to last May and is batting .438 (21-for-48) with four doubles, 12 RBI and 11 runs during his current streak.
The Mokena, Ill., native currently leads the Leathernecks in batting average (.429), RBI (22), slugging percentage (.560) and on-base percentage (.486). Lilja is also tied for second on the team with seven doubles and ranks third with 19 runs scored.
Offensive onslaught continues
The Western Illinois bats have caught fire in recent weeks. Leatherneck hitters are batting a combined .334 (122-for-365) with 22 doubles, three triples and six home runs in 10 games since March 20. Western has raised its team batting average from .279 to .302 during that span. The Leathernecks are averaging 12.2 hits, 4.6 walks and 8.3 runs per game during that time including eight games with 10 or more hits.
A total of eight Leathernecks are batting .300 or better during the team's recent offensive surge. Western Illinois ranked second in The Summit League in team batting average (.301), runs per game (6.8), runs scored (150) and slugging percentage (.439) entering this week's round of games.
Record watch: Chris Fuchs
Junior Chris Fuchs is nearing the top of the charts in career saves at Western Illinois. Fuchs picked up his first save of the season and fifth of his career in the 7-4 win over Culver Stockton on Monday. The Pembroke Pines, Fla., native is currently tied for second in saves in program history with six other Leathernecks.
Fuchs has not allowed a hit in his last two outings (4.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 K) and has not allowed an earned run in his last three appearances. He would tie former Leatherneck Nathan Miller for first place in school history with his next save.
Freshman Phenom: Dan Dispensa
Freshman outfielder Dan Dispensa has been phenominal all season long for the Leathernecks. The Chicago native has started every game for Western in center field this season and ranks fourth on the team in batting average (.322) and is fifth in RBI (16). He is tied for fourth in runs scored (17) with teammate Jason Summers.
Dispensa has also showed a solid glove and arm in the outfield, making several impressive defensive plays this season, including a sensational running grab to help preserve the lead in Monday's win over Culver Stockton.
Below flashes brilliance
Junior Beau Below was brilliant in his second start of the season on Monday. Below struck out a season-high seven batters without issuing a walk in the 7-4 win over Culver Stockton. He allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits in five innings of work but did not receive a decision.
Below has recorded eight strikeouts in 11.0 innings this season while allowing just two walks.
Up Next
The
Leathernecks travel to Peoria, Ill. to take on Bradley at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 14 before playing host to IPFW in Summit League play April 16-18.
