MANHATTAN, Kan. - Western Illinois baseball was unable to overcome 11 issued walks during game one with Kansas State and dropped the opening game 6-4 on Friday afternoon.
Dustin Hunter got the start for the Leathernecks and was in search of his first victory at Western.
The Wildcats pounced early as it was able to put a run on the board in the second inning. KSU added one in the fifth and four more in the sixth inning. That would be all the runs for the home team on the day.
Western Illinois started the comeback in the seventh inning. Ryan Cowhey began the inning with a single to left field. Dan Dispensa followed with another single. Both runners would advance as the shortstop was charged with a throwing error on the play. Chris Giglio was able to bring in a run with a sacrifice fly to right field. Tyler Baratono collected his first collegiate hit with a bunt to third base. Matt Igara sent one towards second base that was booted and allowed Dispensa to score. Tom Lilja came to the plate and reached on an error by the Wildcats. That error allowed Baratono to score the third run of the inning.
Heading into the eighth inning the Leathernecks trailed 6-3.
Travis Pedersen entered the game and shut the door on Kansas State for 2.1 innings and allowed Western to have a shot in the final two innings.
Jake Moore started the next inning off with a single to center field in his first plate appearance. However, Moore was cut down on a fielder's choice by Cowhey. Dispensa continued his hot streak with another hit and that forced Kansas State remove Kayvon Bahramzadeh who appeared in releif of Kyle Hunter. Giglio executed a sacrifice bunt to perfection and Western Illinois had runners at second and third. A wild pitch by the new Wildcat pitcher Evan Marshall allowed Cowhey to score from third to bring the deficit to two runs.
That would be as close as the Purple Army would get and the final score would be 6-4 in favor of the home team.
Kansas State improves to 6-2 and Western Illinois goes to 1-7.
Dispensa had two hits on the afternoon to lead the Leathernecks. Giglio and Igara each drove in a run. Lilja, John Koszulinski, Austin Cowen, Moore and Cowhey all added a hit to the cause.
Dustin Hunter was saddled with the loss (0-2) after he went 4.2 innings allowing two runs on three hits and walking eight Wildcats. Alexander Zarate appeared in relief for the first time in his Leatherneck career and lasted just 0.1 of an inning and was charged with three earned runs. Gabe Long tossed 0.2 and allowed an unearned run. Pedersen was strong in his second appearance of the season and did not allow hit during his outing.
Kyle Hunter picks up the win to move to 1-0 on the season. Evan Marshall is credited with a save for his first of the season.
The Leathernecks will square off with the Wildcats for two games on Saturday at Tointon Family Stadium and first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. Be sure to tune in to the broadcast on Rocky Vision beginning at 12:45 p.m.
