MACOMB, IL – Western Illinois baseball continues its season by hitting the road to face the Bradley Braves before coming home to host the SIUE Cougars. The Leathernecks are 8-25 overall this season, 3-9 in conference play.

Who | Bradley | SIUE

When | April 15 | 6:00 PM | April 17-19 | 2:00 PM, 1:00 PM, 1:00 PM

Where | Dozer Park | Alfred D. Boyer Stadium

Last Time Out

Western Illinois is coming off a three-game series at Lindenwood, where the Leathernecks dropped all three contests in closely contested matchups. WIU fell 2-5 in the opener despite a two-run home run from Cordell Coburn, while Lindenwood used a four-run fifth inning to pull away. In game two, the Leathernecks were held to just one run in a 1-4 loss, with their lone score coming in the eighth inning. The series finale saw WIU battle into extra innings, as the Leathernecks totaled 11 hits and tied the game late, but ultimately fell 2-3 in 14 innings after a walk-off single by Lindenwood. 

Scouting Bradley

After finishing around the .500 mark in 2025 and remaining competitive in the Missouri Valley Conference race, the Bradley Braves baseball team returns a mix of experienced upperclassmen and key position players while bringing in a solid incoming class aimed at improving depth across the roster. Offensively, the Braves rely on timely hitting and situational execution rather than power, with several returning bats capable of producing in key moments and creating pressure on the bases. 

Scouting SIUE

After building momentum with a strong 2025 campaign and remaining in the mix in the Ohio Valley Conference standings, the SIUE Cougars baseball return a core group of experienced contributors while adding depth through a sizable incoming class. SIUE has leaned heavily on its offense early in 2026, featuring a lineup capable of producing runs in bunches with a mix of power and speed that puts pressure on opposing defenses. Defensively, SIUE has been solid overall, and when they combine clean fielding with their offensive production, they present a tough matchup capable of outscoring opponents and controlling games.

Bradley vs WIU History

Western Illinois enters this matchup with clear recent momentum over Bradley, having won the last two meetings in 2025 (9-6) and 2026 (12-7), both on the road. While earlier results in the series were more mixed, WIU has consistently found success in Peoria over the years and now appears to be carrying that confidence into Macomb as well. The Leathernecks' ability to generate offense and close out games has been a defining factor in this stretch, contrasting with Bradley's struggles to contain runs in key moments. With back-to-back wins and a history of strong performances in the series, Western Illinois looks to maintain control as the rivalry continues.

SIUE vs WIU History

Western Illinois enters its matchup with SIUE looking to build consistency after a mixed stretch in the series. The Leathernecks showed their potential in 2025 with a convincing 5–2 road win, but dropped the other two games in that same series, continuing a trend of uneven results against SIUE. Over the past few seasons, WIU has struggled to contain SIUE's offense, surrendering several high-scoring games, including tough losses in 2023 and 2024. However, WIU has also proven it can compete in tighter contests, picking up key wins in 2021 and 2024, along with a dominant 21–4 victory back in 2017. If the Leathernecks can limit big innings and find more consistency at the plate, they have shown enough flashes in this matchup to challenge SIUE despite recent setbacks.

OVC Key Stats

• Liam Bushey ranks seventh in the OVC with 37 RBIs.

• Joe Connolly is ranked sixth in the OVC for runs scored, recording 40.

• Bushey is ranked fifth in the OVC for home runs, with 10. 

FOLLOW THE LEATHERNECKS

For all the latest information on Leatherneck Baseball, please visit GoLeathernecks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Leathernecks on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.