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Western Illinois University Athletics

MBA_SDSU2_FP
WIU Visual Productions Center
1
South Dakota State SDSU 8-11, 1-4 Summit
2
Winner Western Illinois WIU 4-13, 2-3 Summit
South Dakota State SDSU
8-11, 1-4 Summit
1
Final
2
Western Illinois WIU
4-13, 2-3 Summit
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 R H E
South Dakota State SDSU 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 13 2
Western Illinois WIU 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 6 0

W: Milligan, Nick (1-0) L: J.D. Moore (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Western Walks Off Against South Dakota State After 14 Innings

A wild pitch from J.D. Moore scored Payton Jeffers to give WIU a 2-1 victory.

MACOMB, Ill. - Leatherneck baseball used a Jackrabbit wild pitch to earn a 2-1 walk-off victory over South Dakota State on Saturday (March 21) at Alfred D. Boyer Stadium. The game lasted 14 innings and ended a five-game losing streak for Western.

With the victory WIU improves to 2-3 in the Summit League and 4-13 overall. SDSU drops to 8-11 overall and 1-4 in league play. 

"It feels really good. The guys really took to heart what we talked about after the game yesterday and this morning as well," said head coach Ryan Brownlee. "We still made mistakes here and there, but when you have good body language and project good body language you're going to get more things to swing your way."

Leatherneck starter Tom Constand struck out two and sat the Jacks down in order in less than three minutes to open the game. Western failed to score in the bottom half, and the game opened with a scoreless first inning for the first time this season at Boyer Stadium.

South Dakota State had a runner at first and third. On a delayed steal, the runner from first took off and after a throw down to second, the runner at third stole home in the top of the second to take a 1-0 lead. 

Over the next four innings, Constand and the Purple and Gold defense held the Jackrabbits scoreless thanks to some stellar defensive plays. Mark Garton and Constand converted a pickoff play into a caught stealing to save a potential run in the third. In the fourth, Jake Moore threw a runner out at third base from left field, and in the sixth, shortstop Chris Tschida made a throw from the outfield grass in time for an Adam McGinnis tag at third base to end the inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, Garton poked a single out to left-center field to start the inning off. A bunt single from Brent Turner put runners on first and second, and a Roman Visitine walk loaded the bases. Colton Pogue drove a shot to right centerfield, and the Jackrabbits right fielder Paul Jacobson made a diving grab to keep multiple runs from scoring. It turned into a sacrifice fly and scored Garton from third to tie the game at one. However, SDSU would escape with no more damage done and eventually send the game into extra innings.

In the 11th, Western was faced with bases loaded and no outs, but the defense would prevail as senior reliever Tyler Owings drew three straight ground balls to retire the side. SDSU also loaded the bases with just one out in the 13th following a one-out double, fielder's choice in which both runners were safe and an intentional walk. Nick Milligan struck out a batter and got a groundout to first base to end another threat.

"I give our guys a lot of credit.," said coach Brownlee. "They could have caved in during the bases-loaded situations, but we worked out of them. Hopefully this gives us some momentum moving forward, knowing we can win ballgames. I am very proud of the way our guys battled and stuck with it."

In the bottom of the 14th, Payton Jeffers and Moore hit back-to-back singles, followed by an intentional walk for Tschida to load the bases. With McGinnis at the plate, Jacks' pitcher J.D. Moore put a pitch in the dirt and past his catcher, allowing Jeffers to come in from third for the walk-off score.

Milligan (1-0) earned his first win of this season, going the final two innings allowing just two hits and one strikeout. Constand notched a season-high seven strikeouts in seven innings with one run on six hits, and four walks. Owings' outing turned into a season-high four innings with no runs on five hits and three strikeouts. Jordan Pannell pitched a scoreless ninth, and surrendered just two walks.

At the plate, Garton posted a two-hit one-run outing with Jeffers, Moore, Tschida, and Turner adding singles of their own. Visintine stole his fourth base of the year, and recorded two walks on the day. The Leathernecks made SDSU strand 19 runners in the contest.

The rubber game is set for Sunday at 12 p.m. as lefty-starter Preston Church (1-3) takes on Chad Hodges (1-1) in the series finale. Live Audio and video along with scoring will be available at GoLeathernecks.com/watch. Fans can also follow the baseball team on Twitter at @WIU_Baseball.
 
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