Leathernecks Swept by Surging Lions

Sunday, April 14, 2024 | By: WIU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Western lost all three games completed on Sunday, falling to 4-14 in OVC play.

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3
MACOMB, IL - The Leathernecks took on Lindenwood in a three-game series this weekend, taking on a Lions squad that had won their last seven games entering Saturday afternoon's contest. Western was not able to stop the Lions as Lindenwood went on their way to sweep the Leathernecks over the conference series.

In game one on Saturday, Leatherneck starter Emily Price took the mound, and after allowing a leadoff single, Price got out of the first without allowing a score. The Lions scored a pair of runs in the second, but Price limited damage by stranding two runners in scoring position.

The Western offense struggled to get going early, getting their first baserunner in the third as Megan Leonard hit a double that reached the left field wall. The 2-0 score held through three as Price struck out a pair of Lion batters in the fourth on her way to a one-two-three inning.

Valerie Combs got the Leatherneck bats going in the fifth, belting a leadoff triple to the left field wall that nearly cleared the fence. Maria Luna brought her in on an RBI single, cutting the Lions' lead in half. Those two hits in the fifth were the last the Leathernecks got in game one though, as the offense struggled against Lindenwood's top pitcher, Amanda Weyh. In the bottom of the sixth, the game was suspended on Saturday due to a medical emergency, and the remainder of the game was played starting on Sunday at 11 AM. Lindenwood got two quick outs to start the resumed game, before putting up five runs on three hits in the seventh to take a commanding lead. The Lions won game one 7-1 as Western went down in order in the seventh.

In game two, Lindenwood kept their offense rolling off Leatherneck pitcher Emily Price, scoring four runs to open up the game. Maria Luna led off with a hit in the second, but no runs came across.

In the third, with the Lions still holding a 4-0 lead, Alivia Beard got hit by a pitch, and Combs drove a ball into right-center that scored Beard and got Combs to second base.

Lindenwood answered in the fourth with two runs that made it a 6-1 ballgame. Western got two batters on in the bottom half but were unable to score. The Lions then broke the game wide open with four runs in the fifth, taking a 10-1 lead that ended up being the final score in five innings.

To finish the series, Western started freshman pitcher Lillie Wools. Wools went on to load the bases in the first but got out of it with back-to-back strikeouts. Western took its first lead of the series in the bottom of the first, as Combs scored on an RBI double from Leatherneck senior Bella Alvarez.

After Wools got through the Lions in the second, Lindenwood got even after a pair of hits and a sacrifice fly. Wools kept the Lions at bay in the fourth, and Western threatened to score in the bottom half of the fourth, with Sophia Sanchez and Megan Leonard both singling. Western did not take the lead in the frame, and Lindenwood made them pay by getting two hits to lead off the fifth. After a sacrifice bunt advanced the runners to second and third, a single up the middle gave the Lions a two-run lead.

Western got even in the bottom of the fifth, as Kaylee Ketcherside and Georgia Rea singled to put the tying run on the bases. Bella Alvarez drove in two with a massive double down the left field line, tying the game at three entering the sixth.

In the seventh, Lindenwood nearly took a late lead, with the leading run on second base, but Emily Price shut them down to give Western a chance to walk it off. Georgia Rea hit a leadoff double that gave Western a great chance to win, but a pair of popups moved the game to extra innings.

An eighth inning that saw WIU get two baserunners, but no runs moved the game to the ninth. The Lions blew it wide open by putting up six runs in the frame, taking a 9-3 lead that ended up being the final score.

Western is back in action next weekend with a series at Tennessee State, from April 20-21.

Print Friendly Version

Upcoming Events and Recent Results

Western lost all three games completed on Sunday, falling to 4-14 in OVC play.

Related Videos

Related Stories