MACOMB, Ill- Despite a strong mid-game rally, Western Illinois couldn't hold off a late push from Southern Indiana, falling 6-4 at Alfred D. Boyer Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
WIU put together a three-run fourth inning and saw strong performances at the plate from Liam Bushey and Kenneth Perez, but defensive miscues and timely hitting from the Screaming Eagles proved costly down the stretch.
Southern Indiana struck early, plating a run in the first inning off WIU starter Frederick Romano. After two quiet innings, the Screaming Eagles tacked on two more runs in the fourth, taking a 3-0 lead.
Like the Leathernecks have done all weekend long, WIU responded in the bottom half of the fourth, finally breaking through against USI starter Hiroyuki Yamada. Krayton Morse started things off with a solo home run to right field in the bottom of the fourth, immediately getting one run back. WIU would load the bases and would eventually tie the game on a Liam Bushey single to right field making the score 3-3.
The momentum, however, was short-lived. USI regained the lead with a run in the sixth before adding two insurance runs in the ninth. The Leathernecks had chances to answer but left 10 runners stranded throughout the game.
Bushey led the offense, going 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI, and two walks. Perez also went 2-3 adding an RBI, and Paul Osting drove in a run with a SAC fly.
The Leathernecks will look to bounce back as they will hit the road to take on SEMO next weekend. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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