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0
Western Illinois WIU 13-23, 9-8 SL
2
Winner Fort Wayne FW 7-29, 2-15 SL
Western Illinois WIU
13-23, 9-8 SL
0
Final
2
Fort Wayne FW
7-29, 2-15 SL
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 7 0
Fort Wayne FW 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 X 2 7 0

W: Mitchell Ley (2-4) L: Rektorski, Connor (0-2)

Game Recap: Baseball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Western Illinois Edged 2-0 At Fort Wayne Off Late Runs

The Leathernecks fell 2-0 after a pair of runs were scored in the bottom of the eighth.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – After neither team could find a run through eight innings, the Fort Wayne Mastodons squeaked by Western Illinois with a 2-0 win to take the second game of the series (April 22).  
 
"We just didn't capitalize on our scoring opportunities, and when the wind is like that you're going to have a hard time scoring runs," said head coach Ryan Brownlee. "We had some opportunities to give ourselves a little bit of a cushion, but we just didn't move the ball."
 
Drue Galassi got things started with a double to left center, but the Leathernecks (13-23, 9-8) could not capitalize on the play to keep the score tied at 0-0 after the first.
 
The Mastodons (7-29, 2-15) were able to put runners on first and second in the bottom of the third, but the Leathernecks were able to leave the runners stranded and retire the inning.
 
One inning later, the Mastodons found themselves in scoring position and put runners on second and third, but Connor Rektorski was able to close out the inning with a crucial strikeout to keep the game scoreless.
 
A single by Chris Tschida opened the top of the sixth. Shortly after, Deion Thompson singled up the middle to advance Tschida to third, but the Mastodons were able to get the third out and erase the scoring opportunity.
 
Steve McShane was able to single and reach second off Cord Church's sacrifice bunt in the top of the seventh and on the next at-bat, Galassi was walked which put runners on first and second. Fort Wayne then intentionally walked McGinnis to load the bases with two outs. The Leathernecks, however were unable to bring the runners home to break the scoring drought.
 
The bottom of the eighth saw the first run of the game when Fort Wayne doubled to center field to bring home an RBI to take a 1-0 lead. Another single down the right field line put the Leathernecks in a 2-0 hole that they could not overcome.
 
Preston Church recorded a pair of strikeouts through 2.1 innings pitched, and Rektorski finished with a strikeout through 5.1 innings played. Nate Westfahl also recorded a strikeout after coming in during the bottom of the eighth.
 
The pair of Galassi and Tschida both recorded two hits in the game.
 
The Leathernecks close out the series tomorrow (April 23) with a noon (CT) meeting with the Mastodons.
 
"We were ready to play and outhit them for the majority of the game, but we have to flush this game and be ready to play ball tomorrow," said Brownlee. 
   
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