Box Score TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Western Illinois baseball fell to Indiana State, 7-4, in the weekend finale Monday (Mar. 10) at Sycamore Stadium in Terre Haute. Western scored three runs late but ISU's early lead proved to be too much as the Sycamores won their 12th consecutive game. The Leathernecks fall to 1-9 on the year after the loss.“Tip your cap to Indiana State, they have won 12 games in a row for a reason. They capitalized on our free bases all weekend and finished off innings when they needed to,” said head coach Ryan Brownlee. “As with any baseball game, it is always how you play not who you play. Giving up three earned runs should be enough to win."
After two scoreless innings to start the game, Indiana State put three runs across in the third to take a lead that would last for the duration of the game. The Sycamores notched three hits and capitalized on an error in the inning.
The Sycamores added three more runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning to go on top 6-0. Mike Fitzgerald hit a two-run home run in the inning, his second of the three-game set.
Western got on the board first in the top half of the sixth inning to cut the lead to 6-1. Adam McGinnis reached on an error to lead off the inning and made his way to second on a Chris Tschida single. After a Sycamore double play, McGinnis crossed the plate on a passed ball for WIU's first run.
Indiana State answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the sixth to go up 7-2. Manuel Estevez hit a solo home run over the left field fence for the ISU run.
The Leathernecks put across one more run in the eighth after a scoreless seventh to make it 7-3. McGinnis and Tschida hit back-to-back singles and both moved up 90-feet on a Nathan Pollock walk. McGinnis then scored his second run of the game on a Zack Burling sacrifice fly.
In the ninth Western put across two runs but ultimately fell short after an Indiana State pick-off ended the game. Brent Turner hit a double down the right field line and joined Jameson Henning in crossing the plate on a McGinnis RBI single in to left field in the inning.
Leatherneck starter Tom Constand (0-3) was hit with the loss after throwing 5.2 innings with two strikeouts and three earned runs allowed. Nick Smith threw the final 2.1 innings with two strikeouts.
Indiana State's Kurt Kudrecki (2-1) earned the win after throwing 7.2 innings with two strikeouts and five hits allowed. Ryan Keaffaber earned his sixth save of the season for ISU after recording the final out.
McGinnis' two hits, two runs and two RBI are all season-highs for the true-freshman. Tschida ended the game with three hits, which is also a season-best for the true-freshman.
Western now turns its attention to nationally ranked Louisville as the teams meet for a pair of midweek games beginning Tuesday (Mar. 11) in Louisville, Ky.
"I look forward to another challenge the next two days against Louisville. It should be a great environment," added Brownlee. "I can't wait to see if our team expects to win or goes out and is okay with just playing close. That is our next step for our program.”
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