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Western Illinois University Athletics

Trent Bauer
Mark Kuhlmann
3
Western Illinois WIU 8-16
4
Winner Omaha OMAHA 16-6-1
Western Illinois WIU
8-16
3
Final
4
Omaha OMAHA
16-6-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Western Illinois WIU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 3 6 2
Omaha OMAHA 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 4 9 0

W: Cal Hehnke (1-1) L: Emanuel, Austin (1-1)

5
Western Illinois WIU 8-17
15
Winner Omaha OMAHA 17-6-1
Western Illinois WIU
8-17
5
Final
15
Omaha OMAHA
17-6-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 R H E
Western Illinois WIU 0 1 0 0 0 4 0 0 5 2 2
Omaha OMAHA 0 0 2 1 1 7 3 1 15 12 0

W: Mohler,J. (1-1) L: Carberry, Jack (3-1)

Game Recap: Baseball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Leathernecks Lead Late But Unable to Stay Ahead in Omaha Doubleheader

Western used five hits in the eighth inning of game one and a Deion Thompson grand slam in game two for their first leads of each game.

OMAHA, Neb. – Western Illinois' baseball team took a late one-run advantage in both games of a Sunday (March 31) doubleheader at Omaha, but were unable remain in front in the 4-3 and 15-5 decisions. 

Omaha 4, Western Illinois 3 

There was a pitching duel inside Seymour Smith Park as Javin Drake fanned five of his first seven hitters while the Mavs' starter Payton Kinney retired 11 straight. 

"The last couple of times out I've been focusing too much and putting too much pressure on myself," said Drake. "Today was really just about controlling things that I could, and I think I went a long way in just being able to relax and stay in the moment. We showed a lot of fight today." 

Occupying the corners in the third inning, Omaha snuck a runner in from third base when Western attempted to catch the other stealing. An unearned score doubled Omaha's advantage in the fifth, and the score sat at 2-0 until Leatherneck bats awakened in the eighth.

Western pounced on Omaha's reliever for five singles in the frame, and the end result was a 3-2 lead. The stretch began with Grant Hannant and Dillon Sears pinch hitting for back-to-back hits.

Omaha had previously never trailed at home this season, and their deficit didn't last long as a two-out double in the home half of the inning tied things up. The game ended in walk-off fashion on a blooper to center field.

Drake's appearance ended in six full innings; for the second time this season, he tied his career-high in strikeouts (10) and continues to pace the Summit League in the category with 54 this season. 

Omaha 15, Western Illinois 5

Four straight walks allowed Western to strike first, but the visitors were still in search of their first hit when Omaha padded its lead to 4-1 in the fifth inning.

Patience at the plate helped the Leathernecks draw seven walks and load the bases twice; the last occurrence came in the sixth where Deion Thompson came in to pinch hit with one out and drove a 2-2 pitch to left center field for a grand slam. Western's first hit of the game also pushed it ahead 5-4. 

Omaha scored seven in the bottom of the fifth and remained in front the rest of the afternoon. 

Western's road travels continue Tuesday in a 6 p.m. start at Bradley. 



 
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