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Western Illinois University Athletics

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1
Omaha OMAHA 17-27, 10-15 Summit
2
Winner Western Illinois WIU 16-29, 9-16 Summit
Omaha OMAHA
17-27, 10-15 Summit
1
Final
2
Western Illinois WIU
16-29, 9-16 Summit
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Omaha OMAHA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 6 1
Western Illinois WIU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 5 1

W: Pannell, Jordan (2-1) L: Cole Volkers (1-2)

4
Winner Omaha OMAHA 18-27, 11-15 Summit
0
Western Illinois WIU 16-30, 9-17 Summit
Winner
Omaha OMAHA
18-27, 11-15 Summit
4
Final
0
Western Illinois WIU
16-30, 9-17 Summit
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Omaha OMAHA 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 4 9 0
Western Illinois WIU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 2

W: Zach Williamsen (7-6) L: Constand, Tom (3-7)

Game Recap: Baseball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Leathernecks Walk Off Mavericks in Doubleheader Split

Western took game one, 2-1, and dropped game two, 4-0, on Saturday (May 9) in Macomb.

MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois baseball earned its third win in program history over Omaha with a 2-1 walk off victory in game one of Saturday's (May 9) doubleheader in Macomb. The Leathernecks dropped game two, 4-0.

Mark Garton was the hero in game one, delivering the knockout blow to Omaha with a two-RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning. Preston Church pitched a gem, allowing one run in 7.1 innings of work. The split moves Western to 16-30 overall and 9-17 in The Summit League. Omaha is now 18-27 and 11-15.

"We've had a hard time with Omaha, finishing games off, and that's a big win for us. Usually that's a game that they win 1-0 so that's big for us to come out with the 2-1 win," said head coach Ryan Brownlee. "In game two it was obviously a low strike zone and you have to get it down there. To (Zach) Williamsen's credit, he pitched down and we just didn't do a good job. We got a little frustrated because his location was really good and the umpire was calling low strikes. Again, you just have to stay with what you're doing. The big thing is coming out ready to go for tomorrow."

Game one was a pitcher's duel between Church and Omaha's Tyler Fox, with both pitchers carrying shutouts into the eighth inning. The Mavericks grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the eighth, giving Western just six outs to respond. 

No runs in the bottom of the eighth left the Leathernecks in a do-or-die situation. Colton Pogue opened the bottom of the ninth with a single through the right side, but a strikeout for Omaha left WIU with two outs remaining. However, the Purple and Gold showed patience at the plate as JJ Reimer and Chris Tschida drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. With Garton at the plate and opportunities limited, the junior first baseman took his first pitch and drove it past Omaha's diving third baseman for a game-winning two-RBI single.

Garton finished the game 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. Jordan Pannell (2-1) earned the win with 1.2 innings of relief, giving up just two hits and striking out three. Church surrendered just four hits and one run with four strikeouts in the start. Singles from Pogue, Reimer, and Brent Turner capped off a five-hit three-walk effort for the Leatherneck offense.

In game two the Mavericks grabbed two runs in the top of the third for an early 2-0 lead. A pair of wild pitches in the seventh and eighth innings added two more runs for the opposition as Omaha's starter, Williamsen, pitched the complete-game shutout.

The first five hitters in Western's order all notched a hit each, and Roman Visintine added a single of his own as the Leathernecks topped their hit total from game one. Tom Constand (3-7) was given the loss despite lasting 6.2 innings and giving up only three runs.

With four games remaining in Summit League play, WIU sits one game ahead of North Dakota State for the final berth in The Summit League Tournament.

Western and Omaha will play the finale on Sunday (May 10) at noon as the Purple and Gold celebrate their Senior Day with ceremonies beginning at 11:40 a.m. on the field at Alfred D. Boyer Stadium.

 
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