MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois (9-14-1) punched out 12 hits
and four Fighting Leatherneck pitchers shut out Culver-Stockton (8-21), 9-0,
Wednesday (April 4) at Alfred D. Boyer Stadium. The last Western Illinois
shutout was April 23, 2011 at Oakland (7-0).
Tyler Willman (1-1) earned his first start of the season and
threw five scoreless innings for Western Illinois. Alexander Zarate allowed one
hit over two innings while Tom Constand and Gabe Long threw an inning each.
Austin Cowen (3-for-5) and Matt Igara (1-for-2) drove in a
pair of runs for Western Illinois while Ryan Cowhey (2-for-4) crossed the plate
twice. Dan Dispensa and Steve Kedroski both collected two hits and an RBI.
Western Illinois wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as
the Fighting Leathernecks put up a run on two hits in the first inning. A pitch
hit Dispensa and he stole second before Cowen singled him to third base. Dispensa scored on Igara's RBI single to left field.
The Fighting Leathernecks scored again in the fourth inning.
Rich Mascheri reached on a hit by pitch with two outs and he stole second
before Kedroski's double to left center brought him home.
Manny Reyes' leadoff walk in the fifth inning ignited four
runs. Cowhey followed with a single, Dispensa walked and Cowen brought home two
runs on a double to left field. A pitch hit Igara and he scored with Cowen on
Andrew Quiles' throwing error.
Western wrapped up the scoring with three runs in the sixth
inning. Danny Marcuzzo, Brent Turner, Cowhey and Dispensa singled to start the
inning. Cowhey scored on Igara's sacrifice fly with one out.
Mason Eisenberg (0-2) took the loss for Culver-Stockton after
allowing six runs (four earned) over four innings. The Wildcats had 10 base
runners overall with seven hits and three walks.
Western Illinois starts Summit League play this weekend with
a four-game home series against Southern Utah. Action begins Friday (April 6)
at 3:30 p.m. out at Alfred D. Boyer Stadium.
#WIUAthletics
