THURSDAY'S SCORES
@Illinois State 7,
Western Illinois 6 (11)
Morehead State 8, @Western Carolina 5
ILLINOIS STATE 7, WESTERN ILLINOIS 6 (11)
NORMAL, Ill. - Western Illinois battled through an 11-inning contest but ultimately fell to Illinois State, 7-6, on Thursday afternoon at Duffy Bass Field.
The Leathernecks jumped out early with three runs in the first inning and finished with 12 hits, led by Joe Connolly and Liam Bushey who each collected three hits while combining for four runs scored. Tyler Large drove in two runs and Isaiah Monge added a double and an RBI as Western regained the lead in the seventh inning. Illinois State responded with a solo home run from Ryan Bakes in the bottom half to tie the game, and after pushing a run across in the ninth to take a 6–5 lead.
Western tied the game earlier before the Redbirds walked it off in the bottom of the 11th on an RBI single from Nolan Barry. Brett Buchanan started on the mound for WIU, striking out six over five innings, while the Leathernecks pitching staff combined for 10 strikeouts in the extra-inning battle.
MOREHEAD STATE 8, WESTERN CAROLINA 5
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Morehead State scored five in the top of the first inning, highlighted by Jaden Correa's sixth home run of the season, and the Eagles ran their winning streak to five games with an 8 5 win over Western Carolina in the opener of a four-game series in Cullowhee, North Carolina.
Morehead State (10-8) got off to a fast start in the first inning. Right fielder Davis Germann started things off with a one-out single to right center and scored on designated hitter Aubrey Kearns' double into the gap in right center.
Catcher Caden Sheridan drew a two-out walk to put runners at the corners. A wild pitch moved the runners up, scoring Kearns. Second baseman Nick Griffith was hit by a pitch and shortstop Correa cleared the bases with a deep shot over the left field fence to give MSU a 5-0 lead to start the game.
Freshman Cole Wells (2-1) picked up the win out of the bullpen. He allowed one run on two hits and struck out one WCU batter in 3.1 innings pitched.
MSU starter Landon Waugh had a solid appearance. The sophomore from Louisville threw 3.2 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. He walked three and struck out four Catamount batters.
Western Carolina posted single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to cut the Eagle lead to 5-3. Morehead State got another run in the top of the seventh inning; third baseman Griffin Olson led off with a double to right field and scored on Kearns' two-out RBI single to the gap in right center.
The Eagles padded the lead in the ninth. Left fielder Kyle Krupp smacked a one-out single up the middle and stole second base. He promptly stole third base and scored on a throwing error by WCU catcher Noah Quarless on the play.
Germann walked, stole second base and scored on Kearns' double to left center to put the Eagles ahead 8-3.
Western Carolina scratched out two runs in the bottom of the ninth for the final margin. Catamount starter James Fordham (1-1) took the loss. He was solid after the tough first inning; he threw 6.2 innings allowing six runs on four hits. He struck out 10 Eagle batters and walked three.