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2
South Dakota State SDSU 14-15, 7-6 Summit
7
Winner Western Illinois WIU 10-21, 7-6 Summit
South Dakota State SDSU
14-15, 7-6 Summit
2
Final
7
Western Illinois WIU
10-21, 7-6 Summit
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
South Dakota State SDSU 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 7 3
Western Illinois WIU 0 3 1 0 1 2 0 0 X 7 10 0

W: Koch, Ian (3-2) L: Brady Stover (2-3) S: Minella, Pete (2)

Game Recap: Baseball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Western Wins Series Opener Over South Dakota State

Adam McGinnis hit a home run, Ian Koch earns the win and Pete Minella picked up the save.

MACOMB, Ill. – Adam McGinnis hit a home run, and Drue Galassi and Mitch Ellis had two hits apiece as Western Illinois opened its Summit League series against South Dakota State with a 7-2 victory on Friday. The Leathernecks improved to 10-21 overall and 7-6 in the Summit League.
 
After a 30-minute rain delay to start the game, Western eventually jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning. Chris Tschida opened the inning getting hit by a pitch. Deion Thompson was walked two batters later, then Roman Visintine lined a RBI single. Ellis reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Conner Currier drew a walk to make it 2-0 and Cord Church lined a sacrifice fly for a three run advantage.
 
Anthony Schneider hit a solo homer in the third to cut into Western's lead, but McGinnis responded in the home half of the inning with his second home run of the season.
 
Johnathan Fleek added a RBI single in the fifth for a 5-1 lead. SDSU (14-15, 7-6) added a two-out RBI single from Jake Thompson in the sixth inning but once again the Leathernecks responded in their half.
 
Ellis opened the sixth with a single. Pinch-hitter Ben Sellers followed with a single to put runners on first and second. Church dropped down a sacrifice bunt, and on the throw to first after the out was recorded, the ball came loose and Ellis raced home to score. Galassi singled in his second at-bat of the game making it 7-2.
 
Ian Koch pitched into the sixth inning, but head coach Ryan Brownlee went to the bullpen after consecutive singles. Pete Minella would go on and retire seven straight batters (15 consecutive dating back to his appearance last Sunday) before a leadoff single in the ninth ended the streak. The left-hander retired the next three Jackrabbits in order to secure the win.
 
"This was our most complete game of the year. We competed in every facet of the game," said Brownlee. "Ian showed a lot of composure getting warmed up and then having a rain delay to wait out… We need to bottle this up and be consistent with our approach every day."
 
Galassi, who came in during the fifth inning, hit his third double of the year as part of his two-hit day. Ellis added two hits as the Leathernecks held a 10-7 edge in hits.
 
Koch (3-2) gave up two runs on six hits in 5.2 innings. He walked four and struck out three. Minella gave up just the one hit in 3.1 innings to earn his second career save.
 
Brady Stover (2-3) was charged for three runs on three hits in 1.1 innings. Brett Mogen fanned five in 3.2 innings, giving up two runs on four hits. Seven different Jackrabbits had a hit.
 
Saturday's schedule has been switched to a doubleheader with a first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m.
 
 
 
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