Western Illinois (1-2) battled hard in the series finale versus Western Kentucky (2-1) but came up short in a 9-6 defeat. The great game at the plate wasn't enough for WIU, as walks and errors allowed the Hilltoppers to take the series.
Western Kentucky struck first in the bottom of the second. The Hilltoppers got a two-out triple, and a throwing error by Western Illinois allowed the runner to score and make the score 1-0. Another error in the fourth allowed Western Kentucky to start the inning with a runner on third, and a wild pitch brought in the second run of the game for the Hilltoppers.
Western Illinois got on the board in the fifth. Kory Olsen lined the first pitch he saw for an RBI single to score Dillon Sears to get WIU back within a run. The RBI gave Olsen his fifth of the series.
Western Illinois snagged the lead in the sixth inning by putting a three-spot on the scoreboard. WIU loaded the bases, and Toby Allred delivered a single to right to drive in a pair and put the Leathernecks up 3-2. Sears added the third run of the sixth with an RBI ground out to second to make it 4-2 WIU.
Western Kentucky got back within a run in their half-inning of the sixth with a two-out RBI double to make the score 4-3. Nick Mitchell started the seventh with a single up the middle and eventually came around to score on a wild pitch to give the Leathernecks their two-run lead back.
Western Kentucky didn't go down without a fight and jumped on Western Illinois in the seventh for three runs to take the lead back at 6-5. A pair of leadoff walks helped set up WKU to drive in their three runs with a double and a two-run single.
It was Western's turn to respond in the top of the eighth, and they did just that to tie the game. CJ Richmond pinched hit for Diego Munoz and delivered a ground-rule double to put runners on second and third with no outs. A throwing error by Western Kentucky allowed Sam Maddox to score during Toby Allred's at-bat to tie the game at 6-6.
Western Illinois wanted to add more, but the Hilltoppers made a pitching change and struck out three straight to keep the game tied.
In the eighth, walks also haunted the Leathernecks bullpen, as two walks and a single loaded the bases with no outs for Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers used a double to clear the bases and take a 9-6 lead.
Despite the loss, Chandler Fochs had a solid first start to the season. He went six innings, allowed one earned run (three total), allowed one walk, and struck out three.
Three Leathernecks had a multi-hit game. Toby Allred led the offense with a pair of hits in four at-bats and drove in two runs. Derek Botaletto ended the game 2-5 with a double, and Nick Mitchell went 2-5 with a run scored and a stolen base.
Western Illinois will be back in action next weekend for a four-game series at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. A doubleheader will be played on Saturday (Feb. 26).
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