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Western Illinois University Athletics

Javin Drake
Sarah Twidwell
0
Omaha OMAHA 27-17-1
5
Winner Western Illinois WIU 19-28
Omaha OMAHA
27-17-1
0
Final
5
Western Illinois WIU
19-28
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Omaha OMAHA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Western Illinois WIU 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 X 5 9 1

W: Drake, Javin (6-5) L: Andrew Brighton (2-3)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Drake Goes the Distance in Shutout Victory

En route to his 101st strikeout of the year, Javin Drake pitched a complete game shutout.

MACOMB, Ill. – One hundred and one strikeouts. That's how many Javin Drake currently possesses in the 2019 season alone after pitching a complete game shutout in Western Illinois' Saturday (May 11) matchup against Omaha. 

The junior righty worked nine innings in back-to-back starts and surrendered just four hits in the Leathernecks' 5-0 victory. 

"Lately, I've just been trying to put an emphasis on first-pitch strikes and CJ [Schaeffer] has done a great job of mixing pitches," said Drake. "That has helped me to work on top and have early outs. The main focus has just been throwing strikes." 

The game also saw Drake move up Western's single-season record in strikeouts. He currently sits in second place, while also leading The Summit League, and is seven away from the all-time mark in 91.2 innings pitched (fifth-most in a single season). 

The Leathernecks occupied all three bases but left the third inning without a score; when the opportunity presented itself again in the fifth, the outcome was completely different. It's only fitting that during Senior Weekend, seniors CJ Schaeffer Jr. and Deion Thompson went back-to-back on a 2 RBI single and 2 RBI double. The inning captured all five of Western's runs. 

"It was a big day," said Thompson. "I just tried to do what I could for the team. I was just up there with two strikes and stayed with it. It brings a little something special in my last weekend on Alfred D. We've put in a lot of work and it's starting to pay off. 

The series finale is still on schedule for Sunday but will now start at noon instead of 1 p.m. The Leathernecks' senior class will be recognized in a pregame celebration beginning at 11:40 a.m.  
 
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