Macomb, IL – Western Illinois baseball fell late in the final game of their three-game set against Saint Louis. The 8-5 loss moves WIU to 1-5 overall.

Both teams' offenses stayed dormant during the first two innings as the defenses shined. WIU and Saint Louis combined to have the first 11 batters retired in order before Chris Hege worked a two-out walk. The offense picked up in the third inning as Saint Louis plated a run in the top half of the inning. Western Illinois got on the scoreboard in the bottom half. Trevor Leon started it all with a one-out single. He would advance to second on a wild pitch and third on a Maxton Polad double. Liam Bushey moved both runners 90 feet with an RBI single as the Leathernecks tied the game at 1-1. J.R. Heavilin kept the train moving with an infield single to the shortstop that saw Polad come home to give WIU an early 2-1 lead. Reece Davis gave WIU their third-inning run as he reached on an error.

Tyler Kapraun would be dealing as he shut down Saint Louis's offense over the next two innings. The Leatherneck offense picked up their pitcher in the 4th and 5th inning. In the 4th, WIU would load the bases as a pitch hit Kyree Alexander, and Jackson Horn would single. Poland was the third runner as a pitch hit him. Bushey would add to his RBI total with two outs with an RBI ground out to second base, pushing the Leathernecks in front 4-1. Brock Lummus got his first start and got into the scoring with a solo home run to start the 5th inning as WIU was in front 5-1.

Saint Louis scored seven unanswered runs as they took the 8-5 win.

Tyler Kapraun pitched a gem, going 6.0 innings, allowing just four hits and three runs while striking out four. Maxton Polad and Brock Lummus both had multi-hit days with two hits. Liam Bushey had two RBIs to lead the Western Illinois offense.