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Western Illinois University Athletics

Conner Currier
WIU Visual Productions Center
6
North Dakota State NDSU 10-7, 1-1 Summit
7
Winner Western Illinois WIU 3-14, 1-1 Summit
North Dakota State NDSU
10-7, 1-1 Summit
6
Final
7
Western Illinois WIU
3-14, 1-1 Summit
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
North Dakota State NDSU 0 0 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 6 10 2
Western Illinois WIU 0 1 3 0 1 0 2 0 X 7 11 1

W: Milligan, Nick (2-0) L: Blake Stockert (0-1) S: Westfahl, Nate (2)

Game Recap: Baseball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Baseball Rallies for 7-6 Victory

Conner Currier went 4-for-4 with four RBI in the victory.

MACOMB, Ill. – Conner Currier went 4-for-4 with four RBI, including the eventual game-winner in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Western Illinois ended a six-game losing streak with a 7-6 victory over North Dakota State on Saturday (March 19).
 
Down 6-5 to start the seventh, Roman Visintine started the rally with a bunt single. On the play, the throw from pitcher Blake Stockert (0-1) got past the first baseman and went into right field, allowing him to move to third.
 
After two infield popups, Mark Garton stepped in and hit a grounder to third. The throw was misplayed by the first baseman Brayden Resch, Visintine scored the tying run, and Garton moved into scoring position. Currier lined a RBI single through the left side for a 7-6 lead, which proved to be the final margin.
 
"That's one of the first innings in a long time we had two outs and nobody on base and we found a way to score runs… I'm really happy for our guys, we talked before the game in BP (batting practice) about getting positive energy on our team and not worrying about what happened to us yesterday. You can't worry about the situation, we made some unbelievable plays there late because we weren't worried about the situation, we weren't worried about it being a tight game," said head coach Ryan Brownlee. "You don't get tight, you play relaxed, that's the key to wining close games. The guys in the dugout were better at focusing our energy on ourselves and not being concerned with the other team. That's when it is fun, that is when you start winning close games and start to believe."
 
NDSU (10-7 overall, 1-1 Summit League) threatened in the eighth off reliever Robert Nunn after getting a single and double, both with two outs, to put two runners in scoring position. A groundout ended that threat.
 
In the ninth, Nate Westfahl gave up a bunt single with one out, then on a come-backer to the mound for out number two allowed the tying run to get into scoring position. Logan Busch tried bunting, but catcher Adam McGinnis caught the ball in foul territory for the game's final out.
 
Currier finished the game a home run shy of the cycle, and he nearly got that elusive hit on what was a RBI double off the centerfield fence in the fifth inning. He matched his season-high of four hits.
 
Nick Schrader got the scoring going in the second on a sacrifice fly scoring Currier. The Bison plated four runs in the third, as the inning started with an error, which eventually led to three unearned runs.
 
Western (3-14, 1-1) staged a two out rally in the third to get three runs back and tie the game. Following Visintine's one-out walk and Colton Pogue delivering a two-out single, Garton lined a RBI double. Currier followed with a two-run triple to tie the game.
 
The Bison quickly regained the lead in the fourth scoring twice. The Leathernecks got a run back in the fifth when Garton was hit by a pitch with two outs and Currier followed with his RBI double off the centerfield fence.
 
Nick Milligan (2-0) earned the win in relief allowing just one walk in two scoreless innings. Westfahl earned his second save of the year.
 
Starter Joe Mortillaro was charged for six runs (three earned) on seven hits in four innings. He walked four and struck out four. Colan Borchers pitched a scoreless inning of relief in the fifth, as did Nunn in the eighth.
 
Visintine batted leadoff for the first time this year, and came up with his second straight multi-hit game. Western out-hit NDSU 11-10.
 
Alex Rogers went 4.2 innings in the start, allowing five runs on eight hits. He walked one. Ben Peterson had three hits while Mason Pierzchalski added two and each drove in two runs.
 
The series finale is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon (March 20) at Boyer Stadium.
 
 
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