Baseball Begins SDSU Series Friday

All three games are scheduled for 1 p.m.

LIVE STATS

MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois baseball returns to Alfred D. Boyer Stadium this weekend for a three-game set against South Dakota State. Game one is scheduled for Friday, and all three outings are currently set for 1 p.m.

For game updates, visit GoLeathernecks.com or follow the team on Twitter at @WIUBaseball.

Weekend Rotation
RHP Ian Koch | 4.88 ERA, 27.2 IP, 14 BB, 22 SO
RHP Ryan Dunne | 4.22 ERA, 32.0 IP, 11 BB, 32 SO
RHP Javin Drake | 9.0 IP, 9 BB, 9 SO

Last Outing
With two outs on the board and his team tied 3-3 in the bottom of the eighth, Bailey Montgomery delivered a perfect bunt to score Western's game-winning run against Maryville. His performance marked back-to-back games with a 3-for-3 effort at the plate, and he also added three RBIs.

In the 4-3 success, J.T. Baksha (1-0) was credited the win, pitching a season-high 3.1 innings with a career-high five strikeouts. He allowed one hit and one run.

Maryville Nuggets

After recording his first career win in the Leathernecks' 6-3 decision over North Dakota State (March 18), freshman Jordan Mikel received the start versus Maryville; he pitched one inning with one hit, two walks and a strikeout
Johnathan Fleek went 2-for-4 against the Saints and added a run

Active Streaks

Deion Thompson has a four-game hitting streak and has reached base in nine consecutive games
Steve McShane has reached base in 12 consecutive games, the longest streak by a Leatherneck this season
Montgomery is in the midst of a three-game hitting streak

Dunne Named Summit League Pitcher of the Week
Dunne crowned a successful outing on the mound versus North Dakota State (game two) with The Summit League Pitcher of the Week award, the league announced Monday (March 19).

He secured his first conference honor after surrendering a season-low three hits and no earned runs against NDSU Sunday. Dunne did not allow a hit through the first five innings of play, and finished the game with seven strikeouts.

The appearance marked back-to-back, eight-inning games for the senior righty.

Mizzou Added to Home Schedule
Western added Southeastern Conference competition to its home schedule as the University of Missouri will visit Alfred D. Boyer Stadium next Wednesday, March 28, at 3 p.m.

The Leathernecks' 2018 slate already included a pair of Big Ten Conference opponents in No. 11 Indiana, as well as a home and away series with Iowa on May 1 and May 15.

Scouting the Opposition
South Dakota State (2-17, 0-3 The Summit League) took Oral Roberts, the reigning tournament champions, to 11 innings in its previous outing, but is in search of its first win in nine games.

Josh Falk is batting a team-best .309 with 21 hits and ranks second on the team in RBIs (12). Tony Kjolsing, Newt Johnson and Anthony Schneider pace the Jackrabbits with 13 RBIs each.

On Deck
The Leathernecks conclude their 10-game home stand with Illinois State (March 27) and Missouri (March 28) before heading on the road for a three-game set against Fort Wayne (March 30 – April 1).

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Players Mentioned

#34 J.T. Baksha: LHP; 6' 0"; Junior; L/L

#44 Javin Drake: P; 6' 4"; Sophomore; R/R

#35 Ryan Dunne: P; 6' 3"; Senior; R/R

#3 Johnathan Fleek: INF; 5' 7"; Senior; R/R

#23 Ian Koch: P; 6' 4"; Junior; R/R

#39 Steve McShane: OF; 5' 8"; Junior; R/R

#24 Deion Thompson: INF; 6' 1"; Junior; R/R

#25 Jordan Mikel: P; 6' 5"; Freshman; R/R

#8 Bailey Montgomery: UTIL; 5' 10"; Junior; R/R

Players Mentioned

#34 J.T. Baksha
: 6' 0"; Junior; L/L
: LHP

#44 Javin Drake
: 6' 4"; Sophomore; R/R
: P

#35 Ryan Dunne
: 6' 3"; Senior; R/R
: P

#3 Johnathan Fleek
: 5' 7"; Senior; R/R
: INF

#23 Ian Koch
: 6' 4"; Junior; R/R
: P

#39 Steve McShane
: 5' 8"; Junior; R/R
: OF

#24 Deion Thompson
: 6' 1"; Junior; R/R
: INF

#25 Jordan Mikel
: 6' 5"; Freshman; R/R
: P

#8 Bailey Montgomery
: 5' 10"; Junior; R/R
: UTIL