Two Summit League Series Remain

Western Illinois baseball enters its final stretch of Summit League play, with series on the road at South Dakota State and Omaha.

MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois baseball enters its final stretch of Summit League play, with series on the road at South Dakota State (May 11 – 13) and Omaha (May 17-19).

Game one against the Jackrabbits is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Friday while the final two will start at 1 p.m.

Probable Starters
Game 1 | Ryan Dunne (5.48 ERA)
Game 2 | Javin Drake (4.22 ERA)
Game 3 | Ian Koch (3.27 ERA)

Schedule Addition
If you've checked Western's 2018 schedule lately, you'll notice an extra opponent just before the start of the Summit League Championship. The Leathernecks will take on the Kansas Jayhawks on the road Sunday, May 20.

Last Outing
Taking on Fort Wayne at Alfred D. Boyer Stadium, the Leathernecks recorded their first series sweep under head coach Ryan Brownlee. Western defeated its visitors 6-3, 11-1 (seven innings) and 8-5, while also celebrating its 2018 graduating class.

Western notched four home runs during the three-game set – two from Alex Dorethy, one from Mitch Ellis and a grand slam by Deion Thompson – and finished the weekend with 37 hits. On the mound, Western's starters Ryan Dunne, Javin Drake and Ian Koch yielded four runs.

Drake pitched a complete game in the team's 11-1 victory, walking no one, striking out seven, and giving up only three hits.

Postseason Implications
With its sweep over Fort Wayne, the Leathernecks are currently sitting third in league standings. The top four teams will clinch a berth to the Summit League Tournament.

Current Standings
Oral Roberts | 19-5 (Summit League)
South Dakota State | 13-8
Western Illinois | 10-10
Omaha | 9-12
North Dakota State | 9-13
Fort Wayne | 6-18

#FreshmanSZN
Alex Dorethy may be a freshman, but the Leathernecks' utility man has been playing like a veteran all season.

He earned his first Summit League award Monday (May 7) with co-player of the week honors after hitting 7-for-11 (.636) against the 'Dons. Three of his hits were for extra bases (a double and two home runs), and he also added a team-high six RBIs with four runs scored.

Dorethy is currently in the midst of a five-game hitting streak.

What A Time
When comparing numbers between league and nonleague action, CJ Schaeffer has been a force against Summit foes.

His batting average improves from .291 on the season to .391 (second best in the SL), and 25 of his 34 hits have occurred in league play.

The catcher also leads the Summit in runners caught stealing (13).

Koch'N
Ian Koch continues to pace Western's bullpen with a 3.27 ERA in 71.2 innings pitched. The totals rank third and tie for second in the Summit League, respectively.

The right-handed junior has 65 strikeouts on the season (ranked third in the SL) and has given up three earned runs in his last five starts.

100
Head coach Ryan Brownlee recorded his 100th career win in the Leathernecks' 6-3 decision over Fort Wayne.

Scouting the Opposition
Western and SDSU have only met once this season, and the decision fell in favor of the Jackrabbits 6-3 in 12 innings.

SDSU (15-24, 13-8 SL) won its last two series in play against Fort Wayne and Omaha, with the recent sweep serving as its only three games at home.

On Deck
The Leathernecks return to Alfred D. Boyer Stadium to take on Iowa next Tuesday. The game will be their final at home this season.

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Players Mentioned

#22 Alex Dorethy: INF/P; 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman; L/L

#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

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

#5 CJ Schaeffer Jr.: C; 5' 10"; Junior; R/R

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

Players Mentioned

#22 Alex Dorethy
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman; L/L
: INF/P

#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

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

#5 CJ Schaeffer Jr.
: 5' 10"; Junior; R/R
: C

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