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Western Illinois University Athletics

Pete Minella
11
Winner Western Illinois WIU 9-20, 6-6 Summit
10
Omaha OMAHA 7-24, 5-7 Summit
Winner
Western Illinois WIU
9-20, 6-6 Summit
11
Final
10
Omaha OMAHA
7-24, 5-7 Summit
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Western Illinois WIU 0 1 2 3 1 4 0 0 0 11 15 1
Omaha OMAHA 0 0 0 2 0 7 1 0 0 10 11 4

W: Drake, Javin (2-4) L: James Smith (0-3) S: Minella, Pete (1)

Game Recap: Baseball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Leathernecks Capture Weekend Finale at Omaha

Six Leathernecks record multiple hits and Pete Minella earns his first career save

OMAHA, Neb. – Western Illinois found itself in another one-run game on a series Sunday finale. This time the Leathernecks came away on top. Six Leathernecks recorded a multi-hit game, and Pete Minella pitched 2.2 shutout innings of relief in an 11-10 victory at Omaha.
 
The Leathernecks had lost their last two Sunday games by a 1-0 decision. This time the Leathernecks (9-20 overall, 6-6 Summit League) jumped out to a big lead early on and held on for the Summit League victory.
 
Western got on the scoreboard first in the second inning. Deion Thompson hit his first career triple and Ben Sellers followed with his first career extra-base hit for a 1-0 lead. The lead grew to 3-0 in the third following a RBI single from Chris Tschida and an error allowed both Adam McGinnis and Steve McShane to score.
 
McGinnis' 2-run single and a sacrifice fly from Tschida during the next at-bat made it 6-0 Leathernecks in the fourth.
 
Omaha plated two unearned runs in its half of the fourth inning, but Western responded with another run in the fifth on a RBI single from Mitch Ellis.
 
A four-run sixth inning made it 11-2. Johnathan Fleek brought home two runs on his single, Sellers added a RBI single and Roman Visintine delivered a RBI double. The Mavs began to cut into the lead in their half, loading the bases with no one out. A RBI single made it 11-3. Omaha added a 2-run double, RBI groundout and run-scoring single. A 2-run triple later that inning cut Western's lead to 11-9.
 
Omaha got a RBI double in the seventh to make it an 11-10 game. With the tying run in scoring position and one out, Minella came on in relief and retired the next eight batters he faced in order.
 
"This was a big win for us today, especially the way it started then us giving up a seven spot. The great thing with our guys we didn't panic at all. Javin (Drake) threw well early, it was a learning experience for a young guy. It's the first time we've given him any cushion at all. He deserved it for how he has been pitching," said head coach Ryan Brownlee. "Pete (Minella), well you can't say enough about him, his first career save in extended work in a tight situation. He goes 3-0 on the leadoff guy in the ninth and pumps three straight (strikes) in there. That was a key at-bat and he showed a lot of resilience there."
 
Sellers recorded a career-high three hits with two runs scored and two RBI. Ellis added two hits and finished the weekend with nine hits in all.
 
McShane recorded another multi-hit game, adding two runs scored. McGinnis recorded two hits and a career-high three walks. Tschida had two hits and two RBI, and Fleek added two hits with a RBI.
 
"Steve (McShane) had a great weekend. Ben (Sellers) got a start and took advantage of it, he got a sacrifice bunt down when we needed it. (Mitch) Ellis had an unbelievable weekend, he put up 'Player of the Week' type numbers for us. It was a good offensive weekend for us. Even though yesterday's boxscore won't show it we barreled up balls yesterday," mentioned Brownlee. "That's a game in the past we would lose to them (being up early, lose late), so that's another huge step forward for our program."
 
Javin Drake cruised through his first five innings but was charged for nine runs (seven earned) on eight hits in 5.2 innings as he improved to 2-4. Minella did not allow a hit while earning his first career save.
 
James Smith (0-3) was charged for three runs on five hits in three innings. Cole Thibodeau led Omaha (7-24, 5-7) with three hits.
 
Western concludes its stretch away from home on Tuesday night (April 11), traveling to Iowa. First pitch set for 6:05 p.m.
 
 
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