West Central Reporter

WIU Baseball faced a double defeat against SEMO on Friday, with final scores of 12-1 and 6-5 in the two games.

The first game saw the Leathernecks committing five errors, giving SEMO a decisive advantage. Although Matt Olive hit a lead-off home run in the fourth inning, it was the sole run for WIU in that game. Olive ended the game with a 1-3 performance at the plate. Pitcher Max Tripure threw for four innings, allowing six runs, four of which were earned, on four hits, and recorded four strikeouts.

In the second game, WIU initially led with two runs in the first inning. This lead was short-lived as SEMO countered with six runs to take a commanding 6-2 advantage by the end of the fourth inning. The Leathernecks attempted a rally later, with Kyree Alexander hitting a solo home run in the seventh, followed by Brock Lummus with a two-run home run in the eighth inning, closing the gap to 6-5. However, WIU was unable to score in the ninth inning and ended the game with a 6-5 loss.

Jorge Romero stood out in the bullpen, pitching four innings and striking out six, a personal best for the season. Lummus and Alexander led the team's offense, each going 2-4 with a home run.

The Leathernecks will conclude their series with SEMO tomorrow, with the game scheduled to start at 2 p.m.

For updates on Leatherneck Baseball, fans are encouraged to visit GoLeathernecks.com or follow the team on X, Instagram, and Facebook.