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Western Illinois University Athletics

MBA_IPFW_Game1_FP
WIU Visual Productions Center
3
Winner Western Illinois WIU 7-17
2
Omaha OMAHA 15-12
Winner
Western Illinois WIU
7-17
3
Final
2
Omaha OMAHA
15-12
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Western Illinois WIU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 3 4 1
Omaha OMAHA 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 2 1

W: Mortillaro, Joe (2-3) L: David Flattery (0-2) S: Westfahl, Nate (4)

Game Recap: Baseball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Leathernecks Rally for Game 2 Win at Omaha

Joe Mortillaro went the second-longest outing in his career; Colton Pogue’s 2-run double in the eighth inning was the game-winner

OMAHA, Neb. – Colton Pogue's 2-run double in the eighth inning capped a three-run frame with two outs and Joe Mortillaro pitched into the eighth inning as Western Illinois rallied for a 3-2 victory over Omaha. The Leathernecks improved to 5-3 in the Summit League (7-17 overall).
 
Western came up with four hits in the game, two key ones coming with two outs in the decisive eighth. Down a run, CJ Schaeffer walked with one out followed by a walk by Steve McShane. Two batters later Roman Visintine extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a RBI single. Pogue followed with a two run double to right field for a 3-1 lead.
 
Mortillaro got the first out in the eighth but gave up a walk and hit by pitch. Jordan Pannell retired the next two batters on fly outs as Omaha made it 3-2. In the ninth, Nate Westfahl retired the Mavericks in order, two coming on strikeouts, to earn his fourth save of the year.
 
Mortillaro (2-3) went the second-longest outing of his career, 7.1 innings, and scattered two hits. Both hits allowed came during the fifth when Omaha (15-12, 6-2) plated the game's first run. The senior right-hander walked six and struck out four versus the Summit League's top offensive team.
 
"That is one of our best wins we have had here. Omaha makes you earn everything you get. Joe (Mortillaro) pitched better than he did last week," said WIU head coach Ryan Brownlee in reference to the reigning Summit League 'Pitcher of the Week'. "He was a bulldog out there. He has matured quite a bit in his last two starts."
 
Chris Tschida singled to start the game and added another single in the sixth as the junior accounted for two of the team's four hits. As Visintine extended his streak to a career-best 11 games, Adam McGinnis went 0-for-3 and saw his personal-best streak end at 10 games.
 
"I give our hitters a lot of credit for staying with it. They didn't get down after tough at-bats for seven innings. Jordan and Nate did a great job shutting the door. Our dugout had great energy for nine innings and that is how we have to play the game," said Brownlee.
 
Sam Murphy gave up two hits in seven scoreless innings, walking two and striking out 11. David Flattery (0-2) allowed the three runs on two hits and four walks. He fanned five in two innings. Alex Schultz and Cole Gruber, the first two hitters in the line-up, accounted for both singles.
 
The weekend's deciding game three will take place at 1 p.m. on Sunday (April 3).
 
 
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