MACOMB, Ill. - The final home series of the season for the Leathernecks left the Purple & Gold feeling unsatisfied. Alexander Zarate (4-4) was impressive in game one with a career-high nine punch outs. Western Illinois took the first game of the day, 4-1. Centenary battled in game two and earned the series split with a 5-4 victory. The Summit League tournament is still in sight for Western but the picture has become more muddled after this weekend. The top four teams in league play will advance on to the Summit League Tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Heading into the final weekend of the season Western Illinois stands at 20-32 overall and 12-12 in Summit League play. The Gents improve to 11-28 overall and 8-15 in league play.
Eight seniors including Devin VanBrooker were honored before the first game. VanBrooker lost his life last season and was on pace to graduate this year. All the athletes have received numerous accolades on and off the field and will be missed within the Western Illinois community.
Game One
The Leathernecks placed runs on the board in each of the first two innings. Matt Igara took the first pitch of the day off the elbow to start the first inning and advanced to second on a passed ball. Bryan Jordan reached via an error on the shortstop. John Koszulinski drove in a run with a ground out to the Gents' shortstop.
Anthony Kaskadden single into left field to start the Leathernecks' second inning. The speedy outfielder stole second to put himself in scoring position. Chris Giglio advanced Kaskadden to third with a ground out to the right side which proved to be important as Kaskadden would come home on another passed ball.
Zarate continued to impress through the rest of his start. The Orland Park, Ill. native recorded five 1-2-3 innings and held the Gents scoreless until the sixth inning.
A lead off walk to Matt Creamer would haunt Zarate in the sixth as Kyle Morton singled on the infield to allow Creamer to score. Morton was thrown at second trying to slide into second on the play to end the inning. The Gents had closed the gap and trailed 2-1 after five and a half innings.
Kaskadden collected his second triple in as many days in bottom of the sixth to continue his hot hitting. The senior hit .500 (7-for-14) during the four-game series including five RBI and 12 total bases. Ryan Cowhey drove in his 20th run of the season with a single up the middle.
The Purple Army would tack on another run in the eighth on a Giglio bunt single that brought home Kaskadden after he was hit by a Seth Lugo (3-6) pitch.
Zarate ran into his first trouble of the day in the ninth as he walked the lead off hitter and allowed back-to-back singles. Head coach Mike Villano went to his bullpen and called on dependable senior Travis Pedersen to lock down the final two outs. Pedersen lowered his ERA to 2.33Â with two strike outs to end the game and collect his first save of the season.
Zarate finished with nine punch outs in 8.1 innings while allowing just one run.
Tom Lilja and Kaskadden both collected two hits during game one. Kaskadden also scored three runs while Koszulinski, Cowhey and Giglio all collected RBI.
Game Two
Philip Tolman got his second start of the season during game two for the Leathernecks. Western Illinois would have to play from behind as Centenary would jump out to a 3-0 lead after the first two innings.
Kyle Morton smashed his second home run of the weekend to drive in the first two runs of the game. Two Leatherneck errors in the second inning allowed the Gents to push another run across.
Those two innings would be all for Tolman as Beau Below (2-2) entered the game to start the third inning. Below set down the side in order and swung the momentum back towards the Leathernecks.
Lilja started the fourth inning with a double to the left field wall. Kaskadden singled to advance Lilla to third and stole second for his 14th stolen base of the season. On the stolen base the catcher's throw got into center field and allowed Lilja to score.
Austin Cowen singled up the middle to start a two out rally in the fifth. Jordan followed with another single before Gents' starter Cole Thompson issued a walk to Koszulinski. Centenary made a pitching change and called Kelby Langston (1-3) to the mound. Lilja singled to left center for his two runs to tie the game at three.
Another Western Illinois error and two Gents' hits including a two RBI single from Mark Gillean extended the visitors' lead to 5-3 with one-half inning to play.
Cowen doubled down the left field line the start the bottom of the seventh inning. Lilja collected his second double of the series to bring Cowen around to score. The comeback attempt would stall with the Leathernecks a run shy of Centenary. A fantastic play by Derek Dalzell at third base to get Kaskadden at first ended the game to seal the victory for the Gents.
Tolman last just two innings, allowing three runs on three hits and collected two strikeouts. Below went the final five innings and allowed one earned run.
Lilja turned in a 3-for-4 performance with three RBI. Cowen and Jordan both finished game two with two hits.
A late non-conference game with Illinois State will be played on Tuesday before the extremely important series with North Dakota State this weekend. The game with the Redbirds is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Alfred D. Boyer Stadium.
