MACOMB, IL – Adam Juran delivers two extra-base hits and reaches base three times as Western Illinois falls to SIUE 16-3 in the series opener. Western moves to 7-26 overall and 3-10 in conference play.

The SIUE Cougars pounced early as they struck for three runs in the first inning and two more in the top of the third to grow an early 5-0 lead. WIU got on the board at the bottom of the third inning as Cesar Franco drew a one-out walk. Juran produced one of his two double on the night in the third as he advanced Franco to third base. One batter later, Franco read a ball in the dirt and scored as it bounced away from the SIUE catcher, cutting the deficit down to 5-1.

Western Illinois offense was missing the key hit the rest of the night. WIU loaded the bases multiple times and finally came through in the 9th inning. Down 16-1 at the start, WIU mounted a comeback. Liam Bushey and Reece Davis started the inning with back-to-back walks. Justin Jang moved them 90 feet with a single line drive to the left center. With no outs, J.R. Heavilin would ground into a double play that would score Bushey from third base. Kyree Alexander brought in the rest as he roped a ball over the right fielder's head for an RBI double as WIU trailed 16-3. Western Illinois found a groundout that ended any 9th-inning rally.

Adam Juran and Kyree Alexander both had multiple hits on the afternoon. Cesar Franco went 1-3 with a double going now back-to-back games with an extra base hit. Brock Lummus extended his on-base streak to 17 straight games with a walk.

Western Illinois and SIUE continue their three-game battle tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. at Alfred D. Boyer Stadium.