MACOMB, Ill. – Fighting Leatherneck baseball split its weekend doubleheader finale with Fort Wayne Saturday (April 26) at Alfred D. Boyer Stadium in Macomb. The Mastodons came back to win game one in 10 innings, 7-6. The Leathernecks then jumped out to an early lead in game two and cruised to a 9-2 win.

Western is now 14-23 overall this season and 9-7 in The Summit League. The Leathernecks currently sit alone in first place in the conference standings. IPFW falls to 16-26 overall and 8-8 in the league after the split.

Game 1: Fort Wayne 7, Western Illinois 6

Game one was a scheduled seven-inning contest that needed 10 innings to decide a winner. Western took an early lead but the Mastodons battled back and scored one in the top of the 10th to pick up the victory, 7-6.

The Leathernecks wasted no time taking the lead in the first, scoring three runs before the Mastodons could record an out. Western's first six batters all reached with three hits and three walks drawn.

After a scoreless second the Mastodons cut into the lead in the third, scoring twice to make it 4-2. IPFW then scored their third run in the top of the fifth to make it 4-3.

Western answered with two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to make it 6-3. The Leathernecks notched three hits in the frame, with Jake Moore and Chris Tschida each hitting RBI singles.

IPFW fought back, however, scoring a pair of runs in the sixth to again make it a one-run game. Greg Kaiser doubled and scored on a Steve Lowden single for the first run. The Mastodons also loaded the bases and scored their second run on a hit batter.

In the top of the seventh the Mastodons' Shane Trevino was hit by a pitch to put a runner on. Trevino advanced to second on a balk and eventually scored the game-tying run on an RBI groundout from Kaiser.

The eighth and ninth innings were scoreless for both teams, sending the game to the tenth. In the tenth Lowden singled, advanced to second on a walk and moved to third on sacrifice bunt. Lowden scored the game-winning run on a double play.

On the mound for WIU Aaron Michel started the game and threw 5.0 innings with three strikeouts and three runs allowed. Robbie Nunn (1-2) recorded the loss after throwing the final inning with one run allowed. The Leathernecks used five pitchers in total during the contest.

Jameson Henning finished with three hits for the fourth time in his career, while Chris Tschida notched three hits for the third time this season.

Tschida also posted his sixth career multiple-RBI game, finishing with two, while Moore recorded two RBIs for the fifth time in his career.

Game 2: Western Illinois 9, Fort Wayne 2

Western jumped out to an early lead in the weekend finale and never looked back on their way to a seven-run victory. Six Leathernecks recorded multiple hits in the game, led by Tanner Glore who was 3-for-3 at the plate.

On the mound John White (1-3) earned his first victory of the season after throwing 6.0 innings with five strikeouts and no earned runs allowed.

The Leathernecks started the second game strong, scoring twice in the bottom of the first to take an early 2-0 lead. Zack Burling and Henning each recorded singles and both scored on Glore's two RBI single up the middle.

Western increased its lead in the bottom of the second, scoring four more runs to go on top 6-0. The Leathernecks notched four hits with RBI singles from Nathan Pollock, Henning and Glore. Glore's single scored two, giving him a career-best four RBIs for the game.

The Mastodons cut into the lead in the fourth, scoring twice to make the score 7-2. IPFW notched four singles and capitalized on a Leatherneck error to plate two.

WIU scored its eighth run in the bottom of the fourth to increase the lead to 8-2. DeCook singled and crossed the plate on a Tschida sacrifice fly to center field. The Purple & Gold scored their ninth and final run in the bottom of the sixth on a Stafford RBI single to left field.

Henning and Payton Jeffers finished the game with two runs scored each for WIU.

Western now turns its attention to a midweek game against St. Ambrose Wednesday (April 30). First pitch at Boyer Stadium is set for 4 p.m.

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