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Western Illinois University Athletics

Ricky Digrugilliers

Baseball WIU Athletic Communications

Battle of Top Two Teams in Summit League Baseball this Weekend

Leathernecks travel to Omaha in a weekend showdown

#WIUGAMEDAY INFORMATION
 

Western Illinois Fighting Leathernecks (6-16, 4-2 Summit League)
at
Omaha Mavericks (14-11, 5-1 Summit League)

WHEN AND WHERE:
FRIDAY, APRIL 1 - 1 p.m.
Aaron Michel (Jr, LHP) vs. Tyler Fox (Sr, RHP)

SATURDAY, APRIL 2 - 1 p.m.
Joe Mortillaro (Sr, RHP) vs. Sam Murphy (Jr, LHP)

SUNDAY, APRIL 3 - 1 p.m.
Ian Koch (Fr, RHP) vs. Corey Binger (So, RHP)


Omaha, Nebraska
Ballpark at Boys Town

GAME NOTES:
Leatherneck Baseball

Maverick Baseball

LIVE AUDIO:
Omaha Network
(Search MavRadio.fm on Tune In Radio app)

LIVE VIDEO:
None
   
SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE
     
 
TWITTER:
@WIUBaseball
@WIUAthletics

         
INSTAGRAM:
Western Illinois Athletics
         
        
LIVE STATS:
OMavs.com


SOCIAL STADIUM:
#W1U Social Stadium (through SIDEARM Sports)
        
    
PRESEASON INFORMATION
     
      
2016 Preseason Quick Facts (.PDF)
2016 Schedule Release
2016 Roster
2016 Record Book
           
MACOMB, Ill. – After concluding a seven-game homestand, Western Illinois travels for its first Summit League road series in a battle versus the top two teams... The Leathernecks (4-2) face league-leading Omaha (5-1) in a three game set starting Friday afternoon.

LAST YEAR: Western dropped 2-of-3 at Omaha in April but rebounded to take 2-of-3 from the Mavericks at home, including a pair of walk-off hits.

TEAM NOTES:
• Adam McGinnis and Roman Visintine are both currently riding a career-best nine game hitting streak.

• Western won consecutive Summit League series to start the season for the first time since 2007.

• In the team's six wins this year, Western is batting .359 with a 3.50 ERA. During the losses, Western's batting average slips to .179 with a 7.34 ERA.

• Nate Westfahl earned his team-leading third save of the year, closing out game one of the South Dakota State series. He ranks fifth in the conference in saves.

• Conner Currier, Drue Galassi and Chris Tschida are tied for second in the Summit League with two triples each.

• Western leads The Summit League with 10 triples... The 8.06 strikeouts per nine innings and 28 stolen bases rank second.

• Aaron Michel increased his earned run allowed shutout to 8.0 innings in Summit League play with his 5.0 start against South Dakota State... Michel has scattered five hits, walked one and fanned seven in two conference starts while allowing the two unearned runs.

• Summit League Pitcher of the Week Joe Mortillaro owns a 2.70 ERA in Summit League play, fanning 15 batters in 10 innings with a .244 opponent batting average.

• Preston Church leads The Summit with his .208 opponent batting average.

• Jordan Pannell has now struck out 19 batters in 15.1 innings this year in relief.

• Chris Tschida (SS) and Colton Pogue (INF, OF, DH) have started all 22 games this year… Freshman Nick Schrader played in 22 games with 19 starts.

• Steve McShane swiped two bases against Illinois Springfield. He leads the team with seven in nine attempts, and twice this year stolen two bases in a game.

NATIONAL RANKINGS: Western's highest national ranking heading into this week is 20th in triples per game (0.45/10)... The pitching staff's 8.1 strikeouts per nine innings ranks 86th in the country... Conner Currier stands 57th in walks per game (Summit League leading 0.85)... Nick Schrader ranks 25th in sacrifice bunts (Summit League leading 6)... Nate Westfahl is 98th with three saves... Joe Mortillaro is tied for the Summit League lead with six starts on the mound, good for 26th in the country.

DIFFERENCE IN WINS/LOSSES: During Western's six victories, the team owns a .359 batting average and 3.50 staff ERA. However, during the losses WIU is a combined .179 at the plate with an ERA of 7.34.

INJURY DEPLETED LINEUP: The injury bug has hit Western Illinois during the first half of the 2016 season... The Leathernecks have started 19 different players in the batting lineup and had two pitchers miss time this year with an injury. That's not including the two pitchers who were already going to redshirt... As of last weekend, seven players (all of whom started games this year) were out or limited.

SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS: Omaha enters the weekend having swept Fort Wayne to open Summit League play and taking 2-of-3 from North Dakota State last weekend... Most recently the Mavericks dropped an 11-3 decision at Kansas State... Tyler Fox continues to pace the pitching staff and rank among the Summit League best, currently 5-1 with a 3.58 ERA in 37.2 innings. He struck out 28 with eight walks... Corey Binger owns a 4-0 record with a 3.98 ERA in 31.2 innings... Ryan Cate has four of the team's six saves... Cole Gruber leads the hitting attack at a .420 clip... Clayton Taylor is batting .385 with seven doubles, team-leading seven home runs and his 41 RBI nearly triple the amount of RBI than the next closest (14)... Omaha owns a .301 team batting average with a .968 fielding percentage and 5.39 ERA... The top three batting averages in The Summit League are from Omaha.

 
    




















































 
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Players Mentioned

Preston Church

#24 Preston Church

LHP
6' 3"
Junior
L/L
Adam McGinnis

#12 Adam McGinnis

C
5' 11"
Junior
R/R
Aaron Michel

#11 Aaron Michel

LHP
5' 10"
Junior
L/L
Joe Mortillaro

#21 Joe Mortillaro

RHP
6' 1"
Senior
R/R
Chris Tschida

#6 Chris Tschida

INF
6' 3"
Junior
R/R
Roman Visintine

#9 Roman Visintine

OF
6' 0"
Sophomore
L/R
Nate Westfahl

#19 Nate Westfahl

P
6' 3"
Junior
L/L
Nick Schrader

#14 Nick Schrader

INF
5' 9"
Freshman
L/R
Ian Koch

#23 Ian Koch

P
6' 5"
Freshman
R/R
Drue Galassi

#13 Drue Galassi

INF
6' 3"
Freshman
L/R
Conner Currier

#18 Conner Currier

INF
6' 0"
Junior
R/R
Jordan Pannell

#37 Jordan Pannell

P
6' 5"
Senior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Preston Church

#24 Preston Church

6' 3"
Junior
L/L
LHP
Adam McGinnis

#12 Adam McGinnis

5' 11"
Junior
R/R
C
Aaron Michel

#11 Aaron Michel

5' 10"
Junior
L/L
LHP
Joe Mortillaro

#21 Joe Mortillaro

6' 1"
Senior
R/R
RHP
Chris Tschida

#6 Chris Tschida

6' 3"
Junior
R/R
INF
Roman Visintine

#9 Roman Visintine

6' 0"
Sophomore
L/R
OF
Nate Westfahl

#19 Nate Westfahl

6' 3"
Junior
L/L
P
Nick Schrader

#14 Nick Schrader

5' 9"
Freshman
L/R
INF
Ian Koch

#23 Ian Koch

6' 5"
Freshman
R/R
P
Drue Galassi

#13 Drue Galassi

6' 3"
Freshman
L/R
INF
Conner Currier

#18 Conner Currier

6' 0"
Junior
R/R
INF
Jordan Pannell

#37 Jordan Pannell

6' 5"
Senior
R/R
P