West Central Reporter

WIU Shutout in Loss

 Western Illinois Baseball team fell on Saturday (Mar. 18) afternoon to Southeast Missouri State at Capaha field. The Leathernecks could not get the offense going, as they were shutout 4-0.
 
Western Illinois offense was slow to start for the second day in a row. After a leadoff walk by Nick Mitchell was wiped away by a double play, Western Illinois would have the next eight batters retired in order. Down 2-0 in the top of the fourth inning, Western Illinois would get the first hit of the day. Mitchell would take a 2-2 pitch and send it into right field. That hit would be wiped away with another double play. 
 
J.R. Heavilin would lead off the fifth inning with a double. After a fly, Derek Bottaletto would ground out to first, advancing Heavilin to third base, but a line out by Kyree Alexander would end the scoring threat.
 
Western Illinois offense would have one more chance to put runs on the board. Down 4-0, heading into the top of the 9th, Mitchell would draw a one-out walk to get himself on base. Max Slavens and Jake Allgeyer would have back-to-back singles to load the bases. WIU would be unable to score as they would ground into a game-ending double play.
 
Tyler Kapraun got the start for WIU, and he was dealing early as he would start the game with back-to-back scoreless innings. He would get two of his five strikes in the second inning. Kapraun went six full innings allowing just three hits, two runs, zero earned, and walking two.
 
The top four hitters in the Western Illinois lineup would contribute for all of WIU's four hits on the afternoon. Nick Mitchell reached base in three of his four at-bats, walking twice and a single. J.R. Heavilin was the only Leatherneck with an extra-base hit as he hit a double in the fifth inning. WIU drew two walks and was hit by a pitch just once.
 
WIU will finish their three-game series with SEMO on Sunday (Mar. 19). The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Calapha Field. 

Original source can be found here