Skip To Main Content

Upcoming Events and Recent Results

Western Illinois University Athletics

WIU Baseball
14
Winner EIU EIU 8-18, 3-5 OVC
5
Western Illinois WIU 6-20, 2-6 OVC
Winner
EIU EIU
8-18, 3-5 OVC
14
Final
5
Western Illinois WIU
6-20, 2-6 OVC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
EIU EIU 0 4 0 0 2 3 2 2 1 14 14 1
Western Illinois WIU 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 5 8 3

W: RIGGS, B (2-1) L: Kachinsky, Colton (0-3)

7
Winner EIU EIU 9-18, 4-5 OVC
4
Western Illinois WIU 6-21, 2-7 OVC
Winner
EIU EIU
9-18, 4-5 OVC
7
Final
4
Western Illinois WIU
6-21, 2-7 OVC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
EIU EIU 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 5 7 10 2
Western Illinois WIU 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 8 4

W: TOUMA, L (1-0) L: Kratz, Caden (0-2) S: HANSCOM, Jonathon (2)

Game Recap: Baseball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Late Inning Rally Hurts Leathernecks as EIU Sweeps Doubleheader

MACOMB, IL – A late-inning rally propelled the visiting Panthers of Eastern Illinois over Western Illinois in game two as EIU swept Saturday's doubleheader 14-5 and 7-4 at Alfred D. Boyer Stadium. Western Illinois moves to 6-21 overall and 2-7 in Ohio Valley play.

Saturday's doubleheader started smoothly for WIU as they retired three of the first four EIU batters. In the second inning, things turned 180 degrees. Four runs on back-to-back-to-back home runs opened up a 4-0 lead for Eastern Illinois. WIU offense responded in the bottom of the second as J.R. Heavilin smoked a two out double to left center. Trevor Leon brought in the around to score with an RBI single to right field as WIU cut the deficit down to 4-1.

Kyle Rosenfeld came in to pitch in the third inning, locking down the EIU offense for the third and fourth, and the score stayed the same at 4-1. Western Illinois offense could not capitalize before EIU added two runs in the fifth and three in the sixth, pushing themselves in front 9-1. The Leathernecks got a run back in the bottom half of the sixth as Chris Hege started the inning with a single. He advanced to third base on a double down the left field line, and Liam Bushey brought him on an RBI ground out as WIU trailed 9-2. 

Heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, WIU trailed 13-2; Hege started off the inning, getting on base this time via an error. Alexander singled as the Leathernecks went station to station. Bushey, once again with Hege in scoring position, found a way to produce an RBI as he slapped one back up the middle, bringing in Hege. After a Leatherneck flyout, Bushey and Alexander advanced 90 feet on a wild pitch, and Heavilin drove them both in on his second double of the day as Western Illinois trailed 13-5. EIU added a run in the top of the ninth as they took game one 14-5.

Game two saw the Leathernecks offense jump in front early. Chris Hege drove a line drive the other way, giving WIU a leadoff baserunner. The Leathernecks kept the pressure on as Kyree Alexander worked a walk, putting a runner in scoring position. Liam Bushey advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt, and Adam Juran scored Hege with an RBI ground out as the Leathernecks took a 1-0 lead. WIU was not done scoring as J.R. Heavilin scored Alexander with an RBI single, and WIU doubled their lead.

Western Illinois tacked on a pair of runs in the second inning. Trevor Leon took Hege's leadoff batter recipe, driving a ball to right field to start the inning. A double play, however, wiped away the leadoff single as the Leathernecks looked to attack with two outs. Hege started the two-out scoring rally by getting hit by a pitch and then stealing second base. Alexander took advantage of the man in scoring position as he singled to center, scoring Hege and putting the Leathernecks in front 3-0. Alexander was then in motion swiping a second base, and Bushey drove him in with an RBI double down the right-field line.

Western Illinois offense would be held in check the rest of the day as the Leathernecks would not score another run. WIU had chances to add on as they stranded the bases loaded in the fifth inning. Tyler Kapraun was dealing for WIU, keeping EIU's offense dormant for most of the day. Kapraun threw 6.0 innings, allowing just two runs, which came in the fourth inning as he handed the ball to WIU closer Caden Kratz. Kratz went into the game looking for the nine-out save. Krazt was electric through the first six outs, striking out the side in the 7th and seeing only four hitters in the eighth inning. The ninth inning gave Kratz and the Leatherneck defense some trouble. A leadoff batter gave EIU a glimpse of hope, and they took advantage as they struck for five runs in the top of the ninth and pulled out the 7-4 come-from-behind victory.

Western Illinois collected 16 hits over the two games, having eight in each. Kyree Alexander and J.R. Heavilin had multiple hits in game one, each with a double. Chris Hege and Trevor Leon had two hits apiece in game two. Liam Bushey and J.R. Heavilin both drove in three runs combined between the two games.

Western Illinois will take three days off before they are back in action at Alfred D. Boyer Stadium, welcoming the Redbirds of Illinois State.
Print Friendly Version