LAST TIME OUT: The Leathernecks took on the Purple Aces of Evansville on Friday and Saturday (March 6-7) at LakePoint Sporting Community and Perfect Game Fields in Emerson, Georgia. WIU and UE played two doubleheaders that ended in a 2-2 split, the Leathernecks first wins of the year. Game one went to Western 4-3 in 13 inning. Evansville took games two and three 6-4 and 10-0. The Purple and Gold won the finale 3-0. The Leathernecks were led at the plate by Jake Moore who batted .308 with three runs on four hits and three RBI including a two-run home run and a double. Payton Jeffers also scored and drove in two runs while batting .444, and Chris Tschida joined the hit parade with two runs and three RBI on six hits.  JJ Reimer also swatted a solo home run, his second of the season. On the mound junior transfer Jordan Pannell earned his first win of the season and as a Leatherneck in the game one victory. The righty threw two innings of scoreless baseball without surrendering a hit to earn the win. Preston Church started game four and earned his first win of the season as well over eight innings of scoreless baseball. Tyler Owings came on and earned the seventh save of his career to help lock in the win. Tom Constand pitched a complete game in the second game of Friday's doubleheader, the second CG of his career, but was saddled with the loss in the seven-inning affair.

SCOUTING THE 'DONS: Fort Wayne rolls into Macomb this weekend with a record of 9-5 after dropping two of three to Butler last weekend in Indianapolis. The Mastadons started the season strong, taking a four-game series from Alabama A&M in Huntsville. They dropped the series opener against Murray State on Feb. 21 and then went on a four-game win streak over two weekends before a loss to Norfolk State in Emerson, Georgia. Due to the extreme weather over the past months, Fort Wayne has yet to play a game at home this season. At the plate IPFW is led by junior outfielder Brandon Soat and senior utility player, Shane Trevino. In 59 at-bats Soat has scored 16 runs, driven in 20 and boasts a .419 batting average that includes six doubles, three triples and a home run. Trevino has four home runs this season and is hitting .375 with 14 runs scored and 21 RBI. On the mound junior RHP Trevor Storie leads the team in innings pitched (19.1), wins (2), and all starters with a 5.59 ERA. IPFW is led by Bobby Pierce. Pierce is in his seventh season with the 'Dons and  led the team to its highest league finish in program history (3rd) in the 2014 season. Fort Wayne was picked to finish last in The Summit League preseason polls but currently holds the best record headed into league play.      

SERIES HISTORY: Friday's game will mark the 28th meeting in program history between Fort Wayne and Western. The Leathernecks lead the all-time series 24-13 after dominating the 'Dons with 11 wins and just four losses over the last two seasons. The last time these Summit League foes met was in the 2014 Summit League Tournament in the first round. It took 10 innings but Western won 8-7 and eventually advanced to the championship game. The 2014 regular season series also went the way of WIU as it would take three of four from IPFW at home and on the road. 

SUMMIT LEAGUE OPENERS SINCE 2010: WIU is 1-4 in Summit League openers over the last five years. In 2014 the Leathernecks broke a four-year losing streak by defeating South Dakota State. Prior to last year, the last win for Western in a Summit League opener was in 2010 when they defeated Oakland 9-7 in Rochester, Mich. 

OPENING DAY AT HOME: This year, Western Illinois hosts the earliest home-opener in program history (March 13). In 2007 the Leathernecks were scheduled to debut at home on March 7 but did not open in Macomb until March 17, defeating St. Ambrose 3-0. Since 2010 the Purple and Gold are 2-3 in home openers.

NATIONAL WATCH LIST: Sophomore catcher Adam McGinnis has been placed on the Johnny Bench Award Watch List. The honor is given to the top catcher in NCAA Division I baseball. McGinnis joins 74 additional candidates thanks to the nomination of head coach Ryan Brownlee. Semifinalists will be announced May 14 and finalists announced on June 2. The award will be presented on June 25 in Wichita, Kansas. Past award winners include current Major League catchers Buster Posey (Giants) and Kurt Suzuki (Twins).