West Central Reporter

WIU baseball faced challenges in their doubleheader against Illinois State on Saturday, suffering a 11-4 defeat in the first game and a 10-0 shutout in the second at Duffy Bass Field. The Leathernecks, now with a record of 5-11, initially took the lead in game one during the third inning with Liam Bushey hitting a three-run homer to left field. Tyler Large contributed an RBI single in the fifth inning, but these were WIU's only scores.

Pitcher Jason Buhl started for WIU but encountered difficulties, allowing six runs (five earned) over three innings. The bullpen provided relief from the fourth inning onward, yet Illinois State accumulated 15 hits against WIU pitching in this game.

In the second game, WIU managed only three hits and was unable to score. Despite Bushey's efforts with a double in the sixth inning and going 2-3 overall, scoring opportunities were scarce as they left six runners stranded on base.

Frederick Romano started on the mound for WIU but lasted just over three innings while giving up five runs. Illinois State extended their lead with additional runs later in the game.

After this sweep by Illinois State, WIU aims to recover before their next matchup against Southern Illinois on Tuesday in Carbondale. The first pitch is set for 6 p.m.

For further updates on Leatherneck Baseball, visit GoLeathernecks.com or follow them on social media platforms X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.