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Alex Dorethy, Drue Galassi, Kevin Raisbeck
Sarah Twidwell

Leathernecks Turn Page on Second Half of Summit League Schedule

The Leathernecks will now take on South Dakota State inside the Sioux Falls Stadium.

Western Illinois (14-20, 8-7 Summit) at South Dakota State (16-15, 9-6)                       
Date: April 19-20
Site: Sioux Falls, S.D. / Sioux Falls Stadium (The Birdcage) 
Game Times:  3 p.m. (Friday), 12 p.m. (Saturday DH) 


Schedule Change: The venue and start times for Western's upcoming series at South Dakota State have changed as the teams will now play at the Sioux Falls Stadium, the home of the unaffiliated Sioux Falls Canaries of the American Association. 

There will be a single-game Friday at 3 p.m. before a noon doubleheader on Saturday. 

Part One: The Leathernecks opened their Summit League schedule with South Dakota State, where the Jackrabbits claimed 7-6 and 7-4 victories. CJ Schaeffer Jr. sent a walk-off grand slam in the ninth inning of game two to assist his team to a 10-6 success. 

Western's Last Outing: Tuesday's trip to SIUE marked sort of a homecoming for Missouri natives Justin Fitzpatrick and CJ Schaeffer Jr., and the two didn't disappoint. 

Schaeffer scored Western's first two runs after doubling to reach base, and Fitzpatrick crowned the scoring with his second career home run. The Leathernecks dropped the decision, 13-3. 

Drue's Crue: Drue Galassi is off to a hot start in his junior campaign, pacing the Leathernecks in nearly every hitting category: hits (33), runs (17), home runs (7), triples (2), and RBI (32). 

A season ago, he recorded a pair of home runs, and has already surpassed the total with seven this year. Two were registered in one game alone (South Dakota State, March 17), and he homered in all three games in Western's sweep over Oral Roberts. 

Galassi currently leads the Summit League in RBI. 

Back-to-Back: For the first time under the direction of head coach Ryan Brownlee, the Leathernecks clinched back-to-back Summit League sweeps in home sets against Oral Roberts (April 5-7) and Purdue Fort Wayne (April 12-13). 

Prior to this season's set against WIU, the Golden Eagles had never been swept in league play.

Summit Standings: Leatherneck pitchers are currently 'Top 10' in several Summit League categories. 

Javin Drake 
Innings Pitched | 61.2 | 1st
Strikeouts | 71 | 1st
ERA | 3.36 | 4th

Jace Warkentien 
Innings Pitched | 48.2 | T6th 
ERA | 4.25 | 7th
Strikeouts | 44 | 8th

Jack Carberry
Appearances | 12 | T8
Wins | 5 | T2

Weekly Awards: Western Illinois laid claim to the first teammates to sweep The Summit League's weekly baseball honors this season as Drue Galassi was named Player of the Week and Javin Drake Pitcher of the Week. 

The honor marked Drake's second of the season and the Leathernecks' fourth as Kevin Raisbeck was named Player of the Week on Feb. 25.

February 25
Player of the Week: Kevin Raisbeck
March 11
Co-Pitcher of the Week: Javin Drake
April 8
Player of the Week: Drue Galassi
Pitcher of the Week: Javin Drake

Just Javin: Javin Drake has struck out at least five batters in eight of his 10 appearances this year including a career-high 10 against Saint Louis (March 8), Omaha (March 31), and Purdue Fort Wayne (April 13). He currently guides all Summit League pitchers with 71 Ks, sitting 22nd in the nation. 

High Kudos: C.J. Schaeffer Jr. was one of 75 catchers nominated by their head coaches for the Buster Posey Award, given annually to the nation's top collegiate catcher. Schaeffer led the league with 19 runners caught stealing a year ago and already has a league-leading 12 in 2019.

He is Western's second watch list selection in three seasons and currently The Summit League's lone representation. Former catcher and Chicago White Sox free-agent signee Adam McGinnis was named a semifinalist (1 of 15 nationally) in 2017. 

Bases Loaded: Highlighted by a pair of grand slams, Western is hitting .297 on the season when the bases are loaded. Bailey Montgomery and CJ Schaeffer Jr. have been most lethal with three hits apiece, and Schaeffer recently tabbed his first career grand slam, walk-off style in a 10-6 victory over South Dakota State (March 16).  

Deion Thompson previously accomplished the feat in an 11-1 victory over Fort Wayne a season ago and added his second at Omaha (March 31). 

B-Mont: Bailey Montgomery joined Western a season ago after transferring in from Wabash Valley. The senior is currently hitting .300 (the lone Leatherneck over .300 at the moment) and ranks second on the team in RBI (18) with 24 hits. 

He recorded a career-high five RBI versus North Dakota State (March 23) and has three multiple RBI games this year. 

They'll Run: The Leathernecks have never been shy on the base paths, and currently lead The Summit League with 45 stolen bases. 

Deion Thompson has been the most accurate in his attempts (9-for-10), and Steve McShane and Drue Galassi each have eight. On the opposite side of the equation, catcher CJ Schaeffer Jr. has caught a league-leading 16 runners stealing.
 
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