MACOMB, Ill. – John Koszulinski's 3-run homer in the seventh inning keyed Western Illinois' come-from-behind 6-5 win in the opener of the doubleheader Saturday (April 9) against South Dakota State, and nearly did the same in the nightcap before losing 9-6 in 12 innings. The Leathernecks moved to 8-21 overall and 1-2 in the Summit League.

GAME 1

Western received a strong pitching performance from Zach Sterling but it was Koszulinski's homer that keyed the rally in the seventh inning.

The junior right hander matched a season-high of eight strikeouts, giving up just five hits. The offense gave Sterling an early lead right away.

Tom Lilja drove in Austin Cowen on a groundout then Koszulinski delivered a RBI single to plate Matt Igara for a 2-0 lead.

SDSU (13-10, 2-1) got a RBI single from Joel Blake in the third but Western responded with Chris Giglio's RBI single in its half. The Jackrabbits scored another run in the fourth to cut it to one, then got two runs in the seventh following a leadoff walk and double. The Leatherneck defense turned a double play and Beau Below got a strikeout to end the threat.

With two outs Igara and Lilja singled to put runners on first and second. Koszulinski drove a shot over the left field fence – his second homer this year - for a 6-4 lead. SDSU scored another run in the eighth but Below worked out of a jam to eventually earn the win.

Sterling went six strong innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits. Below (1-1) allowed one run on four hits in three innings to earn his first win of the year.

Koszulinski went 3-for-4 with four RBI and a run scored. Danny Marcuzzo and Igara added two hits apice.

Blake Treinen (2-2), who retired 12 straight Leathernecks prior to the two-out rally in the seventh, was charged for six runs on nine hits in 6.2 innings. He walked two and struck out five.

GAME 2

The Jackrabbits scored two early runs off Ryan Wachholder in the first inning. Lilja got a run back with his team-leading sixth homer in the second inning, a solo shot to make it 2-1.

Daniel Telford hit a RBI single in the third but Cowen got the run back with a run-scoring single of his own. The offense was held in check for both teams until the seventh (and scheduled final) inning.

The Jackrabbits threatened when they delivered consecutive one-out singles to put runners on the corners. Travis Pedersen started an inning-ending 1-6-3 double play to keep the deficit at one run. Western then started a rally against closer Trever Vermeulen.

Pinch-hitting Jake Moore reached on an error. Marcuzzo dropped a sacrifice bunt but reached base when the defense was slow throwing down to second to attempt to get the force play. Ryan Cowhey's sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position then Dan Dispensa was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Cowen tied the game on an infield single. Igara followed with a slow grounder, but SDSU was able to turn a 6-3 inning-ending double play and send the game to extra innings.

Koszulinski threw out a runner trying to steal in the 10th and 11th inning, ending both frames, but SDSU finally broke through in the 12th.

Two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases to start the frame. Nick Andrews hit a 2-run double, then three singles, a walk and error capped the six-run inning. Western did make it interesting in the bottom half loading the bases with no one out on two singles and a walk.

Cowen lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home a run. Another run scored when Igara reached on an error and Koszulinski delivered a RBI single to make it 9-6 with the tying run coming to the plate. Erik DeJong got a strikeout and flyball to end the game and complete the doubleheader split.

Wachholder gave up three runs on eight hits in five innings. Garrett Bolt (0-1) worked three strong innings before running into problems in the 12th. He was charged for four runs on three hits. Pedersen pitched two hitless innings of relief.

Cowen had two this and three RBI. Dispensa, Lilja and Cowhey had two hits apiece.

Alex Oberle went five innings and allowed two runs on five hits. Vermeulen gave up one unearned run on two hits in four innings, striking out six. DeJong (1-0) allowed three runs on three hits in three innings. Billy Stitz and Eric Cain had three hits apiece as SDSU held an 18-10 edge.

The series concludes on Sunday afternoon, first pitch scheduled for 12 noon.