Western got on the board first in the top half of the first inning. Neil DeCook led off the game with a single and scored on a Tanner Glore RBI sacrifice fly to give the Purple & Gold a 1-0 lead.

DeCook finished the game with two hits for the Leathernecks to go along with his run scored.

The Salukis answered in the bottom half of the inning with four runs to take the 4-1 lead. SIU notched four hits, including two doubles in the inning to go on top for good.

The Leathernecks put another run across in the second inning to cut the SIU lead to 4-2. Travis Stafford led off the inning with a single and later scored on a Saluki error for Western.

Southern added two more runs in the bottom of the second to take a 6-2 lead. Connor Kopach led off the inning with a bunt single, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Kopach scored on a Jake Welch double for the first run, while Welch later scored in the inning for the second run.

WIU scored its final run in the top of the fourth inning. Brent Turner reached base after a walk and eventually scored after back-to-back singles from Chris Tschida and Matt Risdon. Ridson recorded the RBI, the first of the season for the senior.

SIU added three more runs in the seventh to make the score 10-3. In total the Leathernecks used four pitchers in the contest. Tom Constand (0-1) recorded the loss after throwing 1.1 innings with six earned runs and two strikeouts. Riley Perry, Tyler Stolz and Robbie Nunn also made appearances for WIU.

Jameson Henning notched two hits for the Leathernecks. Southern's Jake Welch scored four times, recorded two hits and drove in a run.

The Leathernecks conclude action in the Carmel Inn Showdown on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 22). Western will have a rematch with Louisiana-Monore, who defeated the Purple & Gold in the tournament opener on Thursday, 6-2. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

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