Skip To Main Content

Upcoming Events and Recent Results

Western Illinois University Athletics

Matthew Sturchio
WIU Visual Productions Center
0
Western Illinois WIU 14-35, 11-18 Summit
2
Winner IPFW IPFW 30-24, 13-16 Summit
Western Illinois WIU
14-35, 11-18 Summit
0
Final
2
IPFW IPFW
30-24, 13-16 Summit
Winner
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 0 0 0 6 1
IPFW IPFW 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 2 5 0

W: Trevor Storie (7-5) L: Sturchio, Matthew (0-3) S: Jake Weber (10)

Game Recap: Baseball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Sturchio Goes the Distance but WIU Loses Game Two

Junior right-hander records first complete game this year in 2-0 defeat

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Junior Matthew Sturchio went the distance, scattering five hits, but Western Illinois dropped a 2-0 decision to Fort Wayne on Friday afternoon (May 20).
 
The loss eliminated Western (14-35 overall, 11-18 Summit League) from qualifying for the Summit League Tournament next week.
 
The lone runs of the game came in the second. IPFW (30-24, 13-16) got a leadoff single then walk from Brock Logan to start the inning. Evan VanSumeren singled home a run, but he was eventually picked off base. Shannon Baker delivered a two-out RBI single, which proved to be the final margin.
 
The Leathernecks had opportunities throughout the game, out-hitting IPFW 6-5.
 
With one down in the third, Nathan Pollock and Cord Church singled to put runners on first and second, but a strikeout and flyball ended the threat. Adam McGinnis doubled to start the fourth inning, but was stranded at third base.
 
The Mastodons threatened in the fifth. Baker drew a leadoff walk then took third two batters later on Brandon Soat's double. Kendall Whitman hit a flyball to Pollock in right, and on the throw home he threw out Baker by two steps to end the inning.
 
Western squandered a great opportunity in the seventh. Nick Schrader dropped a leadoff single into shallow right field then Mark Garton was hit by a pitch. Deion Thompson squared to bunt but pulled the bat back on a pitch high in the zone. Garton was caught between first and second, then during the rundown when he was tagged out, Schrader was thrown out at third trying to advance for a double play.
 
Pollock singled to start the eighth off relief pitcher Jordan Martin, reaching base safely for the eighth time in his last 11 plate appearances and recording his second straight multi-hit game. However, he was erased on a ground ball double play and Western eventually came up empty in the inning.
 
With two outs in the ninth, Conner Currier extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a single up the middle. A groundout ended the game.
 
Sturchio (0-3), whose previous season-high innings was six at home versus Omaha, retired the last eight batters he faced in a row and did not allow a hit since Soat's double in the fifth. He walked two and struck out a season-high five batters, his last a called third strike to finish the eighth inning.
 
"Matt has been really good considering the role he has been thrown in to. He was great today. It wasn't going to be an offensive day with the wind blowing in. He made some really good pitches the whole game and got quick outs," said head coach Ryan Brownlee. "He threw 102 pitches in eight innings, he was really efficient. Other than one error, our defense did a good job behind him."
 
Pollock recorded two of Western's six hits. McGinnis took over the team lead with his ninth double of the year. The game lasted just an hour and 56 minutes, the quickest this year for Western.
 
"The last two days have been how our season has gone. We're right there, you're a couple key hits away. If you want to win close games consistently and win championships you can't have miscues and missed signs," said Brownlee. "This year it's disappointing for our guys, disappointing for the seniors. Anytime you get eliminated whether it's in the regular season or postseason it's a sad day. You put so much work in 12 months out of the year. It's always disappointing when the year is over with.
 
"Personally for me every year is a learning experience from a coaching standpoint on what you need to improve on. You always spend time on the road recruiting but also evaluating what works for your program, what needs to get better. There are much better days ahead down the road here for our program," said Brownlee. "Tomorrow is another day to improve. Obviously you're going to give your seniors a chance. You want them to enjoy their last opportunity to play (as a Leatherneck). I try to stress that to them you have to enjoy every day that you have a chance to be on the field. That's what you're going to miss when you're done playing."
 
Trevor Storie (7-5) pitched seven scoreless innings allowing four hits. Jake Weber earned his 10th save. Sturchio did now allow a multi-hit game. The regular season finale is scheduled for 12 noon central on Saturday (May 21).
 
 
Print Friendly Version