Macomb, Ill- Western Illinois turned Alfred D. Boyer Stadium into a hitter's park on Friday, racking up 19 hits and exploding for 17 runs in a dominant 17-8 victory over Illinois State on Friday afternoon. The Leathernecks' lineup delivered in clutch situations, scoring 13 of their runs in the seventh and eighth innings to break the game wide open.
WIU wasted no time jumping on Illinois State pitching, putting up three runs in the first inning. After leadoff hitter Paul Osting started off the game with a lead off single through the right side, Liam Bushey and Tyler Large followed with back-to-back singles putting the Leathernecks on the board right away. Kenneth Perez would then rip a two-run single to left field giving WIU an early 3-2 advantage.
In the third inning, Large crushed his first home run of the game, a solo shot to left, to extend the lead to 4-2. After Illinois State had pulled within 4-3 in the seventh, the Leathernecks unleashed a five-run rally to seize control. Kyree Alexander got things started with a double down the right field line, followed by Brock Lummus reaching on an error by the Redbird right fielder. Wandel Campana would get an RBI SAC fly to score Alexander. Paul Osting would follow that with a walk to bring up Liam Bushey with runners on first and second with one out. Bushey would get ahold of one and hit a three-run shot to center field to extend the WIU lead to 8-3. Illinois State would make a pitching change after that and the first batter that the redbird pitcher saw was Tyler Large. Large would hit his second home run of the game with another homer to left to put the Leathernecks in control with a 6-run lead headed into the eighth inning.
Illinois State would respond in the top of the eighth with five runs of their own to cut the WIU lead to one at 9-8. The Leathernecks delivered the knockout punch with an incredible eight-run eighth inning, sending 12 batters to the plate and piling up six hits in the frame. Kyree Alexander would again start off the inning with a lead off double finishing with three doubles on the afternoon. Brock Lummus would have two doubles in the bottom of the eighth recording three RBI in the eighth inning alone.
WIU made the most of their opportunities, driving in eight two-out runs and finishing the game with five doubles, one triple, and three home runs as part of their 19-hit barrage.
With the win, the Leathernecks improve to 5-9 on the season. WIU will look to keep the momentum going as they will travel to Bloomington, Ill for a double header tomorrow afternoon starting at 1 p.m.
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