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Western Illinois University Athletics

Drue Galassi
Sarah Twidwell
5
Oral Roberts ORU 14-13
8
Winner Western Illinois WIU 9-18
Oral Roberts ORU
14-13
5
Final
8
Western Illinois WIU
9-18
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Oral Roberts ORU 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 1 5 8 2
Western Illinois WIU 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 3 X 8 12 0

W: Warkentien, Jace (1-3) L: Josh McMinn (5-3) S: Emanuel, Austin (0)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Leathernecks Open Series with Win over Oral Roberts

Western returned to the winning column with an 8-5 win over the four-time reigning Summit League champions.

MACOMB, Ill. – There's something about Alfred D. Boyer Stadium. A season ago, the Western Illinois baseball team recorded its first-ever series win over the reigning Summit League champions Oral Roberts, and on Friday (April 5), the Leathernecks added another home success in an 8-5 decision. 

Western moved to 4-2 when playing inside Alfred D. Boyer this season and has now won at least one game in each of its home league series. The Leathernecks led early, thanks, in part, to hits by Drue Galassi, CJ Schaeffer Jr., and Bailey Montgomery, and they never trailed despite the Golden Eagles' pressure late in the game.

A 5-0 advantage was cut within a run in the sixth inning, but pitchers Jace Warkentien and Austin Emanuel didn't buckle. 

"Coach Brownlee and I have talked about being the aggressor and just letting the defense do their thing while I execute my pitches," said Emanuel. "That's what really worked today for us. It's about us playing true to our game and being the baseball team we know we can be. We hit a rough spot and talked about it as a team. We're working through it, and hopefully, we're back on the uphill side of things now." 

Emanuel entered the game in the seventh inning with his team up by one, 5-4, and the top of the order on deck. The brunt of ORU's hits were recorded by the first three batters in its lineup, and while two of them reached base without an out, Emanuel kept his composure for three straight flyouts to end the frame. He allowed two hits and a run in three innings of play and was provided a little breathing room when his teammates scored three in the eighth. 

The Leathernecks outhit Oral Roberts, 12-8, and two went for extra bases including a 2-RBI home run by Galassi. He and Steve McShane each notched three hits while Warkentien was credited with the win and Emanuel the save.

Western and ORU continue their series Saturday at 1 p.m. 
 
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