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Western Illinois University Athletics

Derek Bottaleto
Rachael Keating
1
Western Illinois WIU 2-19
6
Winner Minnesota Gophers MINN 8-15
Western Illinois WIU
2-19
1
Final
6
Minnesota Gophers MINN
8-15
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 1 0 0 0 1 5 2
Minnesota Gophers MINN 1 0 0 0 2 2 1 0 X 6 7 1

W: Maldonado, Aidan (1-2) L: Raymond, Brian (0-2)

Game Recap: Baseball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Baseball Falls In Game Three Versus Minnesota

The Leathernecks will now focus their attention on in-state rival Bradley.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.- Western Illinois baseball (2-19) fell in its series finale to the Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-15) by a final score of 6-1. Western Illinois managed to get a baserunner in seven of the nine innings of offense but couldn't string hits together to drive in enough runs. A big day from Minnesota's starting pitcher helped make the difference in Sunday's contest. 
 
The Golden Gophers used a solo home run in the bottom of the first to take an early 1-0 lead, but Brian Raymond kept Minnesota off the board over the next three innings.
 
In the fifth, Minnesota put the pressure on by loading the bases with no outs after a pair of singles and a hit-by-pitch. WIU opted to put a new arm on the mound, but back-to-back walks brought in two Minnesota runs to put them up 3-0. The Leathernecks managed to regroup and used back-to-back strikeouts and a fly out to left to get out of the fifth with just the two runs allowed.
 
Singles from Matt Santarelli and Dillon Sears and a walk by Kory Olsen loaded the bases in the top of the sixth with no outs, but the Leathernecks only managed to bring one run home. Toby Allred grounded into a double play to score Santarelli to make the score 3-1. The Golden Gophers made a pitching change and used a strikeout to get out of the sixth, still ahead by two.
 
Minnesota led their half of the sixth off with a double and used another double two batters later to drive in their fourth run of the afternoon. Western Illinois committed a throwing error during the next at-bat to allow another run to score. A sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh gave the Golden Gophers a little extra cushion to go up 6-1.
 
Dillon Sears and Nick Mitchell got on base twice in the finale, both going 1-3 with a walk. Matt Santarelli extended his hitting streak to four games, going 1-4 with a run scored. Strikeouts were a frustrating storyline for the Leathernecks, ending with 13, their second-most in a game this season.
 
Kyle Rosenfeld was another bright spot out of the bullpen, pitching 2.2 innings, allowing one run, no hits, a pair of walks, and striking out two batters.
 
Western Illinois heads home before their in-state showdown in Peoria, Ill., on Wednesday (March 30) versus the Bradley Braves. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.
 
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