Skip To Main Content

Upcoming Events and Recent Results

Western Illinois University Athletics

Mitch Ellis
4
Winner Western Illinois WIU 7-19
3
SIUE SIUE 7-23
Winner
Western Illinois WIU
7-19
4
Final
3
SIUE SIUE
7-23
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E
Western Illinois WIU 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 10 3
SIUE SIUE 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 11 2

W: Mikel, Jordan (2-0) L: SHEREYK (0-2) S: Borchers, Colan (3)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Ellis Returns With Game-Winner in Extras

Mitch Ellis went 2-for-4 on the day, highlighted by a game-winning RBI-double in the 10th inning which cemented the 4-3 victory.

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - It has been 44 days since Mitch Ellis last appeared in a Western Illinois uniform. He suited up as the Leathernecks' starting third baseman in the first four games of the season, and had been sidelined by injury until Wednesday's matchup against SIUE.
 
Ellis went 2-for-4 on the day, highlighted by a game-winning RBI-double in the 10th inning which cemented a 4-3 victory.
 
The Cougars finished the game with runners in scoring position, but Colan Borchers closed the door with a strikeout looking. Jordan Mikel was credited with the win, his second of the season, and Borchers the save. The first two outs of the inning were recorded on a pickoff and a runner caught stealing.
 
"It's been a long time of sitting around waiting and watching," said Ellis. "I just wanted to be the one to get it done. Coach [Brownlee] wanted me to bunt, but I wanted to get the hit out and win the game, and he trusted me. I'm feeling very comfortable. They did a good job at keeping me ready. I was standing in on pitches and seeing a lot while I was out, so I felt like I didn't miss anything."
 
In Ellis' return, his first plate appearance resulted in a 3-2 walk, and his second featured an RBI-double down the left field line. The hit pushed the Leathernecks' advantage to 3-0 in the third inning, as Drue Galassi homered to center field in the opening frame to score two.
 
In the bottom of the third, the Cougars tripled, doubled and singled, in succession, for their first hits of the game, and a pair crossed home plate.
 
Western remained in the driver's seat, 3-2, until the eighth inning.
 
Austin Emanuel, traditionally serving as the team's backup catcher, made his first-ever appearance on the mound with runners standing at the corners. He left the inning with a strikeout but not before the Cougars tied the ballgame with a fielder's choice.
 
Emanuel's first pitching performance was decorated by three straight strikeouts and no hits in 1.2 innings.  
 
The Cougars threatened in the fifth inning, loading the bases with one out, but were outmatched by freshman reliever Jack Carberry. A swinging strikeout set his career-high at four, and catcher CJ Schaeffer closed the door with a catch in foul territory. SIUE loaded the bases for a second time in the seventh inning, and again came up emptyhanded as Western escaped unscathed with a double play.
 
Eighteen total pitchers appeared in the game, nine on each side, with Pete Minella going for a game-high three innings.
 
The Leathernecks return to Alfred D. Boyer Stadium Friday for a three-game set against Omaha. The stretch is also billed as Alumni Weekend, where several Leatherneck greats, like the winningest coach in program history Dick Pawlow, will be making their return to campus.
 
Print Friendly Version