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Western Illinois University Athletics

Preston Church
WIU Visual Productions Center
3
Winner North Dakota State NDSU 10-6, 1-0 Summit
1
Western Illinois WIU 2-14, 0-1 Summit
Winner
North Dakota State NDSU
10-6, 1-0 Summit
3
Final
1
Western Illinois WIU
2-14, 0-1 Summit
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
North Dakota State NDSU 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 7 1
Western Illinois WIU 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 9 1

W: Brian VanderWoude (4-1) L: Church, Preston (0-2) S: Sean Terres (5)

Game Recap: Baseball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Leathernecks Drop Home Opener to Bison

Western strands 17 runners in 3-1 loss.

PHOTO GALLERY

MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois baseball had opportunities throughout Friday's Summit League opening game against North Dakota State but could not capitalize, stranding 17 runners in a 3-1 loss. It was the home opener for the Leathernecks after opening with 15 road games to start the year.
 
In every inning, Western had at least one base runner, starting the game with a leadoff single from Chris Tschida. The Leathernecks (2-14 overall, 0-1 Summit) loaded the bases with two outs in both the second and third inning but came up empty.
 
NDSU staged a two out rally against Preston Church in the third, using back-to-back doubles and a RBI single, all starting with two down, to take a 2-0 lead.
 
During the fourth Western finally got on the board. Cord Church drew a leadoff walk but was eventually erased on a caught stealing. Steve McShane followed with a walk. Tschida singled and Roman Visintine singled to load the bases. Relief pitcher Brian VanderWoude (4-1) entered and hit Colton Pogue with the bases loaded to make it 2-1. He got out of the inning on consecutive strikeouts.
 
Western put two runners on in the fifth and sixth with one down and two on in the seventh with two outs but came up empty. NDSU (10-6, 1-0) brought in Sean Terres in the eighth, and he gave up a two-out walk then in the ninth allowed a runner to reach on an error but closed the door for his league-leading fifth save.
 
The Bison added a RBI double in the ninth for the final margin.
 
Church again pitched well but came up with the loss, falling to 0-2. He allowed two runs on five hits in 5.1 innings. He walked two and struck out three.
 
"Preston gave us every opportunity today," said head coach Ryan Brownlee. "That's the great thing about Preston is regardless if his stuff is good or he's not feeling great you know that he's going to give you a chance to win every time he takes the mound. That's why he goes on Friday for us."
 
The Leathernecks held a 9-7 edge in hits but leaving nearly double as many runners on base as the Bison (17-9) was a key in the series opener.
 
"You can't do that (leave that many on base). That's part of staying where you're good as a hitter and getting your best swing on the ball. We've done a pretty good job of that this year," said Brownlee. "That's part of playing the game, staying with your approach."
 
Tschida and Visintine (season-high) had two hits apiece to lead the hitting attack. Cord Church, McShane and Dave Dobrinich all recorded their first hit of the season.
 
Jordan Pannell gave up one run over 2.2 innings but did not allow a hit. He walked three and struck out two. Matthew Sturchio allowed two hits while striking out one in the ninth inning.
 
Drew Fearing and Brayden Resch each had two hits for NDSU.
 
Game two of the series at Alfred D. Boyer Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on the air at WRMS 94.3 FM, online at WRMSFM.com or via the TuneIn Radio app by searching WRMS-FM.
 
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