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Western Illinois University Athletics

Ian Koch
WIU Visual Productions Center
5
Winner Western Illinois WIU 12-25, 9-10 Summit
1
South Dakota State SDSU 16-25, 10-9 Summit
Winner
Western Illinois WIU
12-25, 9-10 Summit
5
Final
1
South Dakota State SDSU
16-25, 10-9 Summit
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Western Illinois WIU 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 5 16 1
South Dakota State SDSU 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 6 1

W: Koch, Ian (3-5) L: Andrew Clemen (3-7)

Game Recap: Baseball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Complete Game Effort From Koch Leads Western to 5-1 Win

Freshman throws his first career complete game in weekend series opening victory

BROOKINGS, S.D. – Ian Koch pitched his first collegiate complete game, striking out a career-high seven batters, leading Western Illinois to a 5-1 victory at South Dakota State on Friday afternoon (April 29).
 
Koch, who didn't make it out of the first inning in his start against the Jackrabbits last month, scattered six hits and two walks to improve to 3-5 in his first Friday start this year.
 
Chris Tschida singled up the middle with one out in the first. Adam McGinnis singled with two outs and Nick Schrader followed with a RBI single for a 1-0 lead.
 
Western put a pair of runners on in the second when Cord Church singled, stole second and Roman Visintine walked but SDSU was able to keep it a 1-0 lead. Church made a play on a deep fly ball right in front of the fence with one on and one out in the second to eventually keep the Jackrabbits scoreless.
 
Deion Thompson singled to start the third, advanced to second base on a groundout then to third on Conner Currier's single. Garton singled home a run with two outs for a 2-0 lead. Western chased starter Andrew Clemen in the fourth. Church singled and stole his second base of the game. Tschida singled up the middle for a 3-0 lead.
 
The Jackrabbits put a pair of runners on in the fourth, fifth and sixth inning but Koch was able to get out of the jams without a run allowed.
 
The Leathernecks (12-25 overall, 9-10 Summit League) were unable to capitalize in the seventh when a Currier walk, Garton single and error put both in scoring position with no one out. A groundout, pop up and groundout ended Western's threat. The Jackrabbits got on the board when Cody Sharrow hit a leadoff home run in the seventh to make it 3-1. From there Koch retired the final nine batters he faced in order.
 
Currier singled with one out in the ninth then Garton walked to put a pair on. A fielder's choice put runners on the corners with two out, then Church followed with a 2-run double to left. Koch finished off the complete game with two strikeouts and a groundout.
 
"This team has been through a lot this year. I couldn't be more proud of how they have handled adversity. We talked last night about each day you show up at the park and it has the chance to be the best day you've ever had on the baseball field," said head coach Ryan Brownlee. "We got great at-bats up and down the lineup, and made plays to pick each other up.
 
"I'm really happy for Ian. He got some redemption from his last outing against SDSU. He located in and out and changed speeds. Adam (McGinnis) did a great job calling the game," stated Brownlee. "Cord Church has taken advantage of his opportunity and Justin (Fitzpatrick) is finally back healthy."
 
Matching a season-high, Church recorded his second 4-hit game in his last three contests. Garton matched a career-high of three hits, and Tschida equaled a season-high of three hits. Western out-hit SDSU 16-6, as the first 15 hits by Western were all singles until Church's 2-run double.
 
Every Leatherneck reached base safely at least once and eight of the starters recorded a base hit, including designated hitter Justin Fitzpatrick who started his first game since mid-March.
 
Clemen (3-7) allowed three runs on nine hits in 3.2 innings. Luke Ringhofer and Newt Johnson added two hits apiece for SDSU (16-25, 10-9).
 
Game two of the weekend series is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday (April 30).
 
 
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