The Leathernecks struggled to get the bats going early, being held scoreless through three innings. Southern Indiana got on the board first with two runs in the fourth, but WIU responded immediately. Matt Olive got the offense going with a solo home run to left field, his second of the season. Krayton Morse followed with a double down the right field line and would eventually come around to score after Kenneth Perez singled and Brock Lummus hit a SAC fly to tie the game at two. 

WIU would keep the pressure on in the fifth scoring three runs to take a 5-2 lead. Paul Osting would start the rally with a one out walk in the bottom of the fifth, followed by a Liam Bushey single. Tyler Large would then get a walk to load the bases for Matt Olive. Olive would reach on an error by the USI left fielder which allowed two runs to score to give the Leathernecks a 4-2 lead. Kenneth Perez would then hit a SAC fly to extend the lead for WIU. 

USI would score six runs in the top of the eighth to take an 8-5 lead and would hang on to the lead for the rest of the game. Starter Jason Buhl pitched four innings, allowing two runs (one earned) while striking out one. 

The Leathernecks (6-13) were led offensively by Krayton Morse and Kenneth Perez, who both went 2-3 in the game. Morse had two doubles and Perez added an RBI. WIU will look to take their first conference series win of 2025 tomorrow afternoon for the final game with Southern Indiana. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.