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Leathernecks and Bison Set for Critical Series in Fargo

WIU and NDSU open a three-game series on Friday (April 24) at 6:30 p.m. in Fargo, N.D.

SERIES INFORMATION

Western Illinois at North Dakota State
Friday, April 24 at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 25 at 1 p.m.
Sunday, April 26 at 1 p.m.

WIU: Stats
COVERAGE
Live Audio: Leatherneck All-Access
Live Stats: GoLeathernecks.com 
SOCIAL MEDIA
Twitter: @WIU_Baseball
Twitter: @WIUAthletics
Twitter: @GoLeathernecks
Facebook: Western Illinois Athletics
TEAM INFORMATION
2014-15 Quick Facts (.pdf)
2014-15 Schedule Release
MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois baseball is headed to Fargo, North Dakota for a three-game series starting this Friday (April 24) against North Dakota State at 6:30 p.m. The games at Newman Outdoor Field may decide who makes The Summit League Tournament and who does not.

The Leathernecks currently hold the fourth, and final spot, for The Summit League Tournament. The Purple and Gold lead the Bison by one game in the league standings.

Fans can follow all the action in this critical series by listening live at GoLeathernecks.com/watch or following along on Twitter at @WIU_Baseball.

LAST TIME OUT: On Wednesday (April 22), the Leathernecks took on Bradley at Dozer Park in Peoria, Illinois... Western dropped the 95th meeting of the two teams, 4-0... The Braves grabbed an early 2-0 lead with runs in the first and the third... WIU threatened in the seventh with back-to-back two-out hits from Mark Garton and Colton Pogue... Garton attempted to score on Pogue's hit but was caught at home on an outfield assist from left... The Braves added two runs of insurance in the bottom of the seventh... Pogue hit his seventh double of the season... He now leads the team in doubles... Brent Turner extended his streak of reaching base to seven games... Colan Borchers made his second start of the season and was saddled with the loss... Western's bullpen used eight pitchers to combine for five innings of two-run relief... Tyler Owings made his 10th appearance without allowing an earned run... Freshman infielder, Kendall King added a hit and extended his hit streak to three games... Prior to Wednesday's game, Western was swept by IPFW in Fort Wayne (April 17-19).

SCOUTING THE BISON: North Dakota State comes into the weekend following a midweek win over North Dakota on Wednesday (April 22)... The Bison also took a game from Summit League-leader, Oral Roberts last Saturday (April 18)... Ben Peterson leads the team with 40 hits and a .348 average... John Skrbec serves as the Bison's power plant with five home runs, 26 RBIs, and 20 runs scored... Skrbec also has nine doubles, 20 walks, and two stolen bases on the season... Trent Keefer serves as NDSU's ace with three wins in nine starts... Keefer carries a 5.87 ERA and 38 strikeouts... Joe Flaa leads the Bison bullpen with three saves this season... He also boasts a 3.79 ERA in 14 appearances, and 54 strikeouts in 35.2 innings of work.

SERIES HISTORY: Western and NDSU met in Macomb earlier this season for three games (March 27-29)... The Leathernecks shut out the Bison in game one and took game two, 3-1, for its first series win of the season... North Dakota State claimed game three 10-2... WIU's last win in Fargo came on April 19, 2014 in game one of a Saturday doubleheader. 

UP NEXT: Following the weekend series, Western will return home for a pair of midweek games against St. Ambrose on Tuesday (April 26) and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on Wednesday (April 27)... The Leathernecks continue their Summit League road trip next weekend (May 1-3) in Brookings, South Dakota against the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State.

HERE'S THE SITUATION: In 2015 left-handed closer Tyler Owings has allowed just two hits to 27 left-handed batters (.074)... Chris Tschida leads the team with 16 hits and a .327 average when there are two outs... Jake Moore has notched 20 hits and boasts a .408 batting average with runners on base. 

LEATHERNECKS IN THE SUMMIT: Currently nine Leathernecks rank in The Summit League's 'Top 10' in ten statistical categories... Roman Visintine sits sixth in walks with 20... Chris Tschida is tied for fourth with two triples... Jake Moore's four home runs tie him for seventh... Adam McGinnis ranks second in hit-by-pitch, and seventh in stolen bases... JJ Reimer comes in third in the hit-by-pitch category... Tyler Owings ranks third in saves... Tom Constand is just one of eight pitchers to throw a complete game this season... Joe Mortillaro slides in at eighth for total innings pitched... Preston Church ranks fourth in strikeouts with Constand at eighth and Mortillaro ninth.

IN THE RECORD BOOKS: On April 4 senior left-handed pitcher Tyler Owings earned his record-breaking 10th career save... The record was previously held by current minor-leaguer Brian Loconsole... Brent Turner is currently eighth on Western's games-played rankings... Tom Constand broke into the Leatherneck 'Top 10' in career innings pitched with 207.0 and career strikeouts with 161.
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Players Mentioned

Preston Church

#24 Preston Church

LHP
6' 3"
Sophomore
L/L
Tom Constand

#17 Tom Constand

LHP
6' 2"
Senior
L/L
Mark Garton

#8 Mark Garton

C
5' 11"
Junior
R/R
Adam McGinnis

#12 Adam McGinnis

C
5' 11"
Sophomore
R/R
Jake Moore

#7 Jake Moore

IF
6' 3"
Senior
L/R
Joe Mortillaro

#21 Joe Mortillaro

RHP
6' 2"
Junior
R/R
Tyler Owings

#34 Tyler Owings

LHP
6' 4"
Senior
L/L
JJ Reimer

#23 JJ Reimer

C
5' 11"
Senior
L/R
Chris Tschida

#6 Chris Tschida

IF
6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
Brent Turner

#2 Brent Turner

IF/OF
6' 1"
Senior
L/R
Roman Visintine

#9 Roman Visintine

OF
6' 0"
Freshman
L/R
Colton Pogue

#3 Colton Pogue

IF
6' 1"
Freshman
R/R

Players Mentioned

Preston Church

#24 Preston Church

6' 3"
Sophomore
L/L
LHP
Tom Constand

#17 Tom Constand

6' 2"
Senior
L/L
LHP
Mark Garton

#8 Mark Garton

5' 11"
Junior
R/R
C
Adam McGinnis

#12 Adam McGinnis

5' 11"
Sophomore
R/R
C
Jake Moore

#7 Jake Moore

6' 3"
Senior
L/R
IF
Joe Mortillaro

#21 Joe Mortillaro

6' 2"
Junior
R/R
RHP
Tyler Owings

#34 Tyler Owings

6' 4"
Senior
L/L
LHP
JJ Reimer

#23 JJ Reimer

5' 11"
Senior
L/R
C
Chris Tschida

#6 Chris Tschida

6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
IF
Brent Turner

#2 Brent Turner

6' 1"
Senior
L/R
IF/OF
Roman Visintine

#9 Roman Visintine

6' 0"
Freshman
L/R
OF
Colton Pogue

#3 Colton Pogue

6' 1"
Freshman
R/R
IF