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2
Southern Indiana USI 1-1
5
Winner Western Illinois WIU2023 1-1
Southern Indiana USI
1-1
2
Final
5
Western Illinois WIU2023
1-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Southern Indiana USI 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 1
Western Illinois WIU2023 0 1 2 0 2 0 0 0 X 5 8 1

W: Armstrong, Jake (1-0) L: Robinson, Trent (0-1) S: Herrmann, Cade (1)

0
Western Illinois WIU2023 1-2
6
Winner Southern Indiana USI 2-1
Western Illinois WIU2023
1-2
0
Final
6
Southern Indiana USI
2-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Western Illinois WIU2023 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1
Southern Indiana USI 2 2 0 1 1 0 X 6 7 0

W: Hutson, Tyler (1-0) L: Kapraun, Tyler (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball | | WIU Athletic Communications

WIU, Sheriff Win First Game as they Split Doubleheader Against USI

Allgeyer has four RBIs in game one

MACOMB, Ill – Western Illinois Baseball team and Interim Head Coach Tayler Sheriff got their first win of the 2023 campaign as they split a doubleheader against Southern Indiana on Saturday (Feb. 18). WIU battled from behind to take game one 5-2. The Leathernecks would drop the second game of the doubleheader 6-0.

GAME 1
It was a warm 50-degree day in Millington, Tennesse, as Jake Armstrong got the ball for game two of the four-game series against the Screaming Eagles. Armstrong started strong, striking out two of the first three batters he saw to keep the scoreless game heading to the bottom of the first. WIU would get a two-out single by senior shortstop Derek Botaletto, but nothing would prevail as it was tied at zero after one. 

The bats would come alive in the second inning as USI hit a leadoff homer to take an early 1-0 lead. Southern Indiana would keep the pressure on as they would load the bases before Armstrong would strike out Ren Tachioka for out number three. In the Leathernecks half of the second, Jake Allgeyer would take a 3-2 pitch and drive it deep into right-center as his solo shot would tie the game at 1-1. Just like the Eagles, WIU would still put on some pressure. Adam Juran would single and then advance to second on a passed ball. He would tag from second as Max Slavens flew one out to center field but would not come around to score.

In the, third USI would use three singles to jump back in front 2-1. Once again, WIU had a response. Nick Mitchell would lead off the inning with a double before a Botaletto ground out would advance him to third. With two outs, J.R. Heavilin would take a 1-2 pitch and send it right over the shortstop's head for an RBI single. Allgeyer would once again come up huge as he would double down the first base line scoring Heavilin from first and giving WIU their first lead of the day (3-2).

Both teams would go scoreless for the 4th inning. In the top of the 5th, Armstrong would sit the Screaming Eagles down in order ending the half-inning with his fourth strikeout. In the bottom half, Kyree Alexander would reach on an error by USI's shortstop. Alexander would then swipe second base putting himself in scoring position.  Heavilin would draw a four-pitch walk to set the stage for Allgeyer. Allgeyer would drive a two-run RBI double down the right-field line and add two insurance runs.

Armstrong would get the first out in the sixth before Jack Bell came in for relief. Bell would come in and strike out the first batter he saw for out number two. In the next at-bat, USI would line a base hit into left field, but Max Slavens would throw the Eagles runner out at home for out number three.

The offense would go quiet for the Leathernecks the rest of the game, but the defense would make some noise. With runners on the corners in the top of the seventh, Caden Kratz would get a strike out swinging to end the frame. Kratz would again come out in the eighth and get a ground ball out. After a walk, Kratz would get the old fashion strike 'em out and throw 'em out as Juran would catch the Eagles' base runner at second.

Cade Herrmann would make his WIU debut in the closer role. Herrman would come in a get back-to-back strikeouts. After hitting a batter and walking another, Herrmann would get a ground out to finish the game 5-2.

The Leathernecks would finish game one with five runs on eight hits. Jake Armstrong picked up his first victory as a Leatherneck as he went 5.1 innings with five strikeouts on 108 pitches. Cade Herrmann picked up save number one on the year. Jake Allgeyer had four RBIs on two doubles and a home run. J.R. Heavilin added another RBI. WIU walked four times and had two stolen bases.

GAME 2
The offense died down in the second doubleheader game as the Leathernecks dropped game two 6-0. After sitting WIU down one, two, three in the top of the first, USI would get a two-out walk with the bases loaded to take an early 1-0. A wild pitch to the next batter saw WIU fall behind 2-0 after the first.

USI would tack on more in the bottom of the second as they would get a double to right field to score two more. Tyler Kapraun would get his second strikeout of the game to limit the damage.

WIU would add some pressure in the third as a pitch hit Peter Fusek, and Nick Mitchell singled through the right side. USI would retire the next two smothering the WIU threat of scoring. USI would add their fifth run as they would get a solo home run to the left. WIU would have another scoring chance in the top of the fifth as Adam Juran walked, then stole second with two outs. Nick Mitchell would also walk, giving Kyree Alexander an RBI opportunity. Alexander would send a line drive into the left-center gap, but USI's left fielder would make a diving grab to end the Leatherneck's threat. USI would add their final run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fifth.

Tyler Kapraun went 5.0 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits. Kapraun struck out seven while only walking three. Nick Mitchell and Jake Allgeyer both had two hits and drew a walk. Aron Harrington and J.R. Heavilin had the other hits for the Leathernecks.

WIU will wrap up the four-game series against Southern Indiana on Sunday (Feb. 19), with the first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m.
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