MACOMB, Ill.- The Western Illinois University baseball team dropped the final game of its weekend series against Eastern Illinois, falling 13-9 on Saturday afternoon at Alfred D. Boyer Stadium.
The Leathernecks collected 14 hits in the contest and mounted a late comeback with four runs in the eighth inning, but Eastern Illinois held on to secure the series finale victory.
Western Illinois struck first in the opening inning after Liam Bushey doubled down the right field line before Cordell Coburn drove him home with an RBI single to center field, tying the game at 1-1.
The Leathernecks chipped away in the bottom of the third when Wandel Campana doubled and later scored on an RBI single from Kamryn Link.
The Panthers extended their lead in the fifth inning with three runs, but WIU responded immediately. Bushey drew a leadoff walk and Campana followed with a single before Link delivered a two-run single to center. Josh McClintock later added a sacrifice fly to trim the deficit to 8-5.
The Leathernecks rallied in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases before Campana worked an RBI walk. Coburn added an RBI groundout, Isaiah Monge lifted a sacrifice fly, and McClintock drove in another run with an RBI single to bring WIU within three at 12-9.
Eastern Illinois added one final run in the ninth inning and closed out the game to secure the 13-9 win.
Link paced the Leatherneck offense with three hits and three RBIs, while Bushey and Campana each scored three runs. McClintock finished with two hits and two RBIs, and Coburn added a pair of RBIs.
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