Leatherneck Greats Return for Omaha Series

Several Leatherneck greats will be returning to campus Saturday for Alumni Tribute Weekend.

A poster from the 1996 season. It was titled "Here's your formal warning."

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MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois baseball will reach the midpoint of its Summit League schedule this weekend with a series against Omaha.

Friday's matchup is scheduled for 3 p.m. while Saturday and Sunday's games will begin at 1 p.m.

Welcome Home
Several Leatherneck greats will be returning to campus Saturday for Alumni Tribute Weekend. The former players span seven decades from 1938 to 2016, and will be joined by the winningest baseball coach in WIU history Dick Pawlow. With 545 wins under his belt, he coached the Leathernecks from 1970 to 1998, guiding the team to two NCAA Division II Mideast Regional appearances.

A pre-game ceremony to honor the alums is scheduled for Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

Probable Starters
G1 | RHP Ian Koch (3.94 ERA) vs. RHP Joey Machado (3.04 ERA)
G2 | RHP Ryan Dunne (4.60 ERA) vs. LHP Spencer Koelewyn (2.30 ERA)
G3 | RHP Javin Drake (4.29 ERA) vs. RHP Jake Pennington (4.76 ERA)

Last Outing
After sitting out the last month due to injury, Mitch Ellis returned to Western's starting lineup Wednesday and sent in the game-winning run in the 10-inning, 4-3 victory over SIUE.

Ellis doubled down the left field line twice for a pair of RBIs.

Drue Galassi blasted a two-run homer in the first inning for his second of the season
Ellis batted in Western's first run in extra innings; the Leathernecks have played in two other extra-inning games this season and dropped the contest 2-1 (North Dakota State) and 6-3 (South Dakota State)
Freshman Jordan Mikel registered the win versus SIUE for his second of the year
Colan Borchers now has a team-leading three saves on the season; the Cougars finished the game with runners in scoring position, but Borchers closed the door with a strikeout looking

Thunder From Down Under
In five games this season, Ellis is hitting .563 with nine hits (three doubles) and two RBI. The Australian native is currently working a four-game hitting streak.

Start It Up
Western's regular rotation - Koch, Drake and Ryan Dunne - have been magic for the program.

Koch'N
Ian Koch currently ranks sixth in the conference with a 3.94 ERA. In 45.2 innings of play, he has 42 strikeouts which ranks third best in The Summit League, with two wins.

Job Well Dunne
Dunne sits atop the Summit League in strikeouts (53). He eclipsed his previous career-high with 10 Ks versus Oral Roberts, and the tally also marked the most recorded by a Leatherneck pitcher this season.

He was named the Summit League Pitcher of the Week (March 19) after surrendering a season-low three hits and no earned runs against North Dakota State. Dunne didn't allow a hit through the first five innings of play, and finished the game with seven strikeouts.

DraKe
Credited with the 1-0 shutout win over Oral Roberts, Drake recorded a career-high eight strikeouts. The victory marked his first of the season as well as back-to-back outings where he has pitched a season-high six innings.

Keep It Going
Deion Thompson and Johnathan Fleek remain the only two Leathernecks to have competed in every game this season.

With a .273 batting average, Thompson continues to lead Western in RBIs (14), runs (16) and hits (27). He's also 11-for-11 in stolen bases which leads the league.

Fleek is hitting .269 and ranks second on the team in hits (25) with eight RBIs.

Scouting the Opposition
The Mavericks manage an overall record of 11-18, 7-4 in the Summit League, and are currently in the midst of a four-game losing skid.

Thomas DeBonville and Braden Rogers each have a team-high 31 hits on the year, and Keil Krumwledge leads Omaha with 21 RBIs.

On Deck
The Leathernecks hit the road next Wednesday for a single-game at Bradley and continue their travels Friday with a three-game set at North Dakota State.

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Players Mentioned

#16 Colan Borchers: RHP; 6' 2"; Senior; R/R

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

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

#10 Mitch Ellis: INF; 6' 1"; Senior; B/R

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

#13 Drue Galassi: OF; 6' 2"; Sophomore; L/R

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

#16 Colan Borchers
: 6' 2"; Senior; R/R
: RHP

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

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

#10 Mitch Ellis
: 6' 1"; Senior; B/R
: INF

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

#13 Drue Galassi
: 6' 2"; Sophomore; L/R
: OF

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

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

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