Skip To Main Content

Upcoming Events and Recent Results

Western Illinois University Athletics

Trent Bauer

Back-to-back with the Dakotas

The Leathernecks have wrapped their regular season matchups with South Dakota State and will now set its sight on North Dakota Sate

Western Illinois (15-23, 9-9) vs. North Dakota State (11-19, 8-10)                          
Date: April 26-28
Site: Fargo, N.D. / Newman Outdoor Field
Game Times:  6:30 p.m., 1 p.m., 1 p.m. 

Part One: Bailey Montgomery accounted for half of Western's 12 RBIs in the series as he bat .333 with a pair of doubles. 

North Dakota State defeated the Leathernecks 4-5 in the set opener and 11-1 in the finale, while pitcher Jack Carberry improved to 3-0 on the season in a 9-6 victory. 

Western's Last Outing: Momentum swung in SIUE's favor after a two-out grand slam in the fifth inning, but prior to the strike, the team was limited to just two runs and two hits. Jordan Cheek's time on the mound stretched four complete innings, and his team trailed 2-1 at the end of his second career start.  

Free bases ultimately became Western's downfall as the Cougars finished the game with a slight 7-5 edge in hits and a 15-2 decision. 

Drue's Crue: It has never been about the records for the Leatherneck outfielder, but Drue Galassi is on the cusp of joining some elite company. 

The junior is currently one shy of tying for ninth all-time in triples, two away from doing the same home runs, and eight away in RBIs. He currently possesses eight, 17 and 90, respectively. 

Galassi currently leads the Summit League with 34 RBI. 

Be First: The Leathernecks are 6-3 on the year when they score in the first inning and have nine wins when they score first. 

Just Javin: Javin Drake has struck out at least five batters in eight of his 11 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 75 Ks, sitting 26th in the nation. 

Drake also possesses the 10th most strikeouts in WIU single-season history.

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 | 66.2 | 2nd
Strikeouts | 75 | 1st
ERA | 4.05 | 7th
Wins | 4 | T5 

Jace Warkentien 
Innings Pitched | 54.2 | T7th 
Strikeouts | 48 | 9th

Justin Foy
Appearances | 14 | T6

Jack Carberry
ERA | 4.66 | 9th 
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

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 17 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). 

They'll Run: The Leathernecks have never been shy on the base paths, and currently lead The Summit League with 49 stolen bases. 

Deion Thompson has been the most accurate in his attempts (9-for-10), and Steve McShane and Drue Galassi also have nine swipes each. On the opposite side of the equation, catcher CJ Schaeffer Jr. has caught a league-leading 17 runners stealing.

 
Print Friendly Version

Related Videos

Now Playing:

Related Stories