Skip To Main Content

Upcoming Events and Recent Results

Western Illinois University Athletics

CJ Schaeffer
Sarah Elsner
7
Winner South Dakota State SDSU 8-8
6
Western Illinois WIU 4-11
Winner
South Dakota State SDSU
8-8
7
Final
6
Western Illinois WIU
4-11
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
South Dakota State SDSU 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 2 0 7 9 0
Western Illinois WIU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 6 11 1

W: Tyler Olmstead (1-1) L: Drake, Javin (2-3) S: Bret Barnett (2)

6
South Dakota State SDSU 8-9
10
Winner Western Illinois WIU 5-11
South Dakota State SDSU
8-9
6
Final
10
Western Illinois WIU
5-11
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
South Dakota State SDSU 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 6 9 1
Western Illinois WIU 0 0 0 3 1 1 0 1 4 10 10 0

W: Carberry, Jack (0-0) L: Cody Carlson (0-0)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Schaeffer’s Walk-Off, Grand Slam Splits Summit League Opening Series

CJ Schaeffer Jr. has three game-winners this season, and his latest was a walk-off, grand slam.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Western Illinois' CJ Schaeffer Jr. has three game winners so far in the 2019 season, and his latest occurred during the baseball team's Summit League opening weekend. 

The Leathernecks played host to South Dakota State in a Saturday (March 16) doubleheader where they fell short of completing a comeback in a 7-6 decision, before Schaeffer's walk-off, grand slam stamped a 10-6 victory in game two. 
 
"Our games have always been competitive with them," said head coach Ryan Brownlee. "In our league, everyone is just about the same and all these games are going to be close. I give our guys credit after bouncing back after the first game. We didn't play poorly, we just didn't play good enough to win. 

"We won the free-base game in the game we won, and they won it in the game that they won. That's something we talk about; if you limit free bases, you've got a chance, especially in this ballpark."

South Dakota State 7, Western Illinois 6

Western nearly pulled off an upset in the bottom of the ninth inning, where it scored all six of its runs. The rally began with a leadoff single by Alex Dorethy and included four more hits before Deion Thompson's two-out, two-RBI shot over the right-field wall.  

Drue Galassi continued to pace the Leathernecks in RBIs (9) and added two more on a hard-hit single up the middle. The effort put an end to the Jackrabbits' shutout while also forcing the visitors to change pitchers from starter Tyler Olmstead to Alex Marro. 

Justin Fitzpatrick and Kevin Raisbeck each notched a run on the reliever, and his appearance concluded after Thompson's home run. 

Western Illinois 10, South Dakota State 6

The Jacks homered in each of the first three innings to jump out to an early 5-0 edge but saw their lead slimmed to one after the Leathernecks scored four unanswered runs.  

Western plated three in the fourth frame alone on RBIs from Steve McShane and Nolan Ard while Schaeffer Jr. came home on a passed ball.

In the next inning, Dorethy sent a blooper over the head of SDSU's third baseman, and the score sat at 5-4 until a dropped flyout saw McShane speed in from first base. 
 
The game was tied at 6-all heading into the bottom of the ninth where Western loaded the bases with no outs. Schaeffer Jr. homered to right field on a 1-0 pitch, lifting his team to its first Summit League win of the season. 

"CJ, that's his third game-winner of the season, so I'm really happy for him, and Jace [Warkentien] did a good job. This isn't the easiest place to pitch in because if you make a mistake, it's going to get hit out. He did a good job of keeping it there for us.  I'm looking forward to tomorrow; our games with South Dakota State are always fun. 

Jack Carberry retired the side in the ninth frame en route to his second win on the year as he pitched three innings with one hit and one run, striking out four.

Western Illinois and South Dakota State return to the campus of Illinois-Springfield Sunday at 12 p.m. for their series finale. 

 
Print Friendly Version