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Western Illinois University Athletics

WIU Baseball
10
Lindenwood LWU 9-36
17
Winner Western Illinois WIU 6-33
Lindenwood LWU
9-36
10
Final
17
Western Illinois WIU
6-33
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Lindenwood LWU 4 1 1 1 1 0 0 2 0 10 16 1
Western Illinois WIU 4 5 0 2 3 3 0 0 X 17 15 0

W: Bell, Jack (1-3) L: Walsh,M. (1-4)

Game Recap: Baseball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Leathernecks Offense Explode for 17 runs against Lindenwood

WIU snaps losing in 17-10 win

MACOMB, Ill – The bats were alive at Alfred D. Boyer Stadium on Tuesday (May 2) afternoon as the Western Illinois Baseball team topped the Lindenwood Lions 17-10.

"Feels great to be back in the win column. Said Interim Head Coach Tayler Sheriff. "We needed to get this one to have the momentum to go into Omaha."

Western Illinois bats came alive early. Down 4-0 after the top of the 1st  inning, Nick Mitchell would lead off the bottom half with a double to right field. Mitchell wasted no time increasing his on-base streak to 21 with the double. Ricky Pospisil batted in the two-hole and followed Mitchell's double with a single. Mitchell would take a large turn around third base, forcing Lindenwood to throw it all the way to the plate. Mitchell would stay at third base after the throw, and Pospisil advanced to second. Derek Botaletto would put WIU on the scoreboard with an RBI ground out, scoring Mitchell and advancing Pospisil to third base. Jake Allgeyer would draw a walk putting runners on the corners with one out. With Aron Harrington at the plate, Jake Allgeyer would take off for second base stopping halfway. The Lions would throw it down to second base running Allgeyer back to first base. With them focused on Allgeyer, Pospisil started creeping towards home, forcing Lindenwood to throw it across the diamond letting Pospisil take off for home and steal it safely. Still in the batter's box, Harrington would take the next pitch and double down the right field line, sending Allgeyer to third base. Adam Juran would bring WIU within one run with an RBI groundout scoring Allgeyer and putting Harrington 90 feet closer at third base. J.R. Heavilin would tie the game at four as he would send a hard ground ball through the left side of the infield bringing home Harrington.

"That was a big response," Sheriff said. "We were able to string together some good at bats and answer in a big way."

Lindenwood would regain the lead in the top of the second as they plated one run across, taking the 5-4 advantage. WIU had another big response in the bottom half. Three straight free passes started off the inning for WIU. With the bases loaded, Lindenwood was called for a balk allowing Max Slavens to tie the game at five. Western Illinois would take their first lead of the ball game as Pospisil grounded out to second base, allowing Brian Erbe to cross home plate and Mitchell to advance to third base. Allgeyer would bring in Mitchell as he lined a ball into right field, increasing WIU's lead to two 7-5. After another Lindenwood balk put Allgeyer on second base, Harrington would cap off the Leatherneck's five runs seconding, sending a ball into the right field trees for a 2-run home run. Harrington's first career homerun put WIU up 9-5.

Lindenwood cut WIU's lead down to 9-7 after the top of the 4th inning, but WIU would respond. Nick Mitchell led off the inning with his second double of the game, putting himself into a scoring position. Ricky Pospisil would lay down at the time and looked like a sacrifice bunt forcing the catcher to throw it to first. The throw sailed wide of the second basemen covering landing in right field. Mitchell would come around to score on the throw, and Pospisil would take second base. Botaletto and Allgeyer would both draw walks loading the bases again for the Leathernecks. Juran would take advantage of the bases load getting hit by a pitch to bring in a run and collect the RBI, giving WIU an 11-7 lead.
Western Illinois would increase their lead in the bottom of the 5th inning. Ahead 11-8, Mitchell and Pospisil would have back-to-back one-out singles. Botaletto would collect his second hit of the afternoon with a double to left field, bringing in Mitchell. WIU would keep adding insurance runs as Allgeyer would draw a walk to load the bases. Lindenwood would have two wild pitches in the inning, allowing both Pospisil and Botaletto to score, giving WIU a 14-8 advantage.

Western Illinois would score their final three runs in the 6th innings. Brian Erbe started the inning with a leadoff double and would advance to third on a wild pitch. Ricky Pospisil would draw a one-out walk, putting runners on the corners. Botaletto would drive in Erbe with a groundout to the pitcher. Allgeyer would increase the Leatherneck's lead to eight as he would pull a ball into right field, scoring Pospisil. Harrington would draw a walk putting Allgeyer in a scoring position, and Juran would bring him in. A two-out single into left field saw WIU increase their lead to nine, 17-8.

"We put together good at bats all day," said Sheriff. "We did not try to do too much and some balls fell for us and put a little pressure on them."

Western Illinois bullpen would hold on for the rest of the game as WIU would take the 17-10 victory. 

Tyler Kapraun and Aron Harrington shined out of the Leathernecks bullpen. In relief, Kapraun pitched two scoreless innings, shutting down the Lions in the 6th and 7th. Inning. He would allow just one hit well, striking out one. Harrington would take over on the mound in the 9th inning, pitching a scoreless frame and punching out two Lion hitters.

"It was a big outing for Tyler. Coach Sheriff said. "Harrington had his tempo back and closed it out for us."

Western Illinois bats exploded for 15 hits on the day, six being extra-base hits. Nick Mitchell led the way with three hits, including his two doubles. Pospisil, Botaletto, Allgeyer, Harrington, and Heavilin had two hits. Western Illinois was patient at the plate as they drew nine walks and were hit by a pitch on three occasions in the afternoon. As a team, WIU had three stolen bases.

WIU heads back to conference play this weekend as they travel to Omaha, Nebraska, for a three-game set with the Mavericks. The first pitch is scheduled for Friday (May 5) at 7:00 p.m.
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