MACOMB,Ill.- Western Illinois picked up an 8-6 win over Saint Louis on Wednesday afternoon in Macomb, using strong hitting to hold off a late push.

The Leathernecks struck first in the second inning when Josh McClintock launched a two-run home run to center, scoring Isaiah Monge and giving WIU an early 2-0 lead. After Saint Louis answered with a four-run fourth inning to take the lead, Western Illinois responded in the bottom half. Cordell Coburn drove in a run with a single before Krayton Morse delivered, tripling to right field to bring in two and put WIU back on top, 5-4.

Western Illinois added to its lead in the fifth on a sacrifice fly from Gage Hoover that scored Joe Connolly, and extended the advantage further in the seventh inning. Connolly led off with a double before Liam Bushey crushed a two-run home run to center, pushing the Leatherneck lead to 8-4.

Saint Louis continued to battle, plating a run in the eighth and another in the ninth, but Eric Rawlings shut the door to secure the final outs and earn the save.

At the plate, Western Illinois totaled seven hits, highlighted by McClintock's two-RBI home run and Bushey's two-run shot. Morse also drove in two runs with his triple, while Coburn added an RBI single. Connolly led the way with two hits and scored twice.

Western Illinois improves to 12-27 overall with the win, and will continue on to conference season by facing the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles on the road. 

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