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Western Illinois University Athletics

Ian Koch
WIU Visual Productions Center
3
Western Illinois WIU 14-34, 11-17 Summit
4
Winner IPFW IPFW 29-24, 12-16 Summit
Western Illinois WIU
14-34, 11-17 Summit
3
Final
4
IPFW IPFW
29-24, 12-16 Summit
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Western Illinois WIU 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 10 0
IPFW IPFW 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 4 6 0

W: Jordan Martin (2-0) L: Westfahl, Nate (1-1)

Game Recap: Baseball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Western Loses Series Opener on a Walkoff

Ian Koch pitches seven strong innings in the no-decision

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Western Illinois held a 3-2 lead heading to the ninth inning, but with the bases loaded and two outs, IPFW got a walk then hit by pitch to pull out a 4-3 decision on Thursday afternoon (May 19).
 
The loss now means Western (14-34 overall, 11-17 Summit League) must win the final two games of the series to clinch a spot in next week's Summit League Tournament.
 
In the ninth, closer Nate Westfahl got a called third strike on a 3-2 pitch for the first out. After a single up the middle, the leadoff hitter was hit then a single loaded the bases. Greg Kaiser, who earlier hit a 2-run double, hit a grounder up the third base line. Westfahl made a sliding stop then threw home for the force out despite the IPFW dugout contending the ball went foul and no runners initially taking off on the pitch. Western tried getting the third and final out when the batter Kaiser was tagged out near home plate after heading back to the dugout, but the umpires called time prior to that and the bases remained loaded.
 
Shane Trevino drew a walk on a 3-1 pitch to tie the game. Pinch-hitter Grant Wilson fouled off a 3-2 pitch but got hit on the following pitch for the walk-off winner.
 
"We talked yesterday at practice, this series is a tournament environment. You get into a tournament situation you have to empty the tank and play loose. We handled the environment well, and it definitely had a tournament feel to it. Both teams were into it," said head coach Ryan Brownlee. "The only thing I might have changed was when we're in a no doubles situation in a 3-0 game with two outs and runners at 1st and 3rd, we have to make sure that ball doesn't get over head but it did and they got two runs on the play. How it played out at the end I'll do it again. Pannell has been our set up and Westfahl closing. They've been great in that role. You'll do it 10-of-10 times, if we get in that situation tomorrow or Saturday we'll do it again."
 
Western started off the second inning with Nick Schrader getting hit by a pitch. He took second on a sacrifice bunt and two batters later scored on a RBI single from Nathan Pollock. In the third, Western staged a two-out rally. Adam McGinnis singled up the middle then Conner Currier drew a full count walk. Schrader followed with a RBI single to center for a 2-0 lead.
 
In the fifth, Chris Tschida got hit by a pitch and McGinnis followed with a walk. With two outs, Mark Garton lined a double past the centerfielder scoring Tschida for a 3-0 advantage.
 
The Leathernecks threatened in the seventh. Tschida singled to start the inning, took second on a wild pitch and went to third on Currier's single, which extended his hitting streak to a career-best 16 games. Relief pitcher Adam Neal got two infield popups to end the threat.
 
IPFW (29-24, 12-16) got a leadoff walk in the seventh, then after a sacrifice bunt a single put runners on the corners. Third baseman Deion Thompson made an over-the-shoulder catch in foul territory for the second out, but Kaiser lined a 2-run double cutting Western's lead to 3-2.
 
Starter Ian Koch pitched seven solid innings, allowing just two runs on four hits. He needed just 17 pitches total to get through the fourth and fifth inning. Jordan Pannell pitched a scoreless eighth. Westfahl (1-1) suffered his first loss of the year.
 
"Ian was tremendous today, he's come a long way since the fall," said Brownlee. "He's been thrown into Friday role (the last few weekends). He's handled it well and battled hard for us today."
 
Pollock recorded two hits in a game for the fourth time in his career. Tschida also added two hits as the duo combined for four of Western's 10 hits.
 
Evan Miller allowed three runs on eight hits in 6.1 innings. He walked four and struck out four. Jordan Martin (2-0) threw a scoreless ninth inning to earn the win.
 
Game two of the series is scheduled for Friday afternoon (May 20), first pitch at 1 p.m. central.
 
 
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