West Central Reporter

The Western Illinois University (WIU) Leatherneck baseball team faced a setback on Saturday night against Southeast Missouri State (SEMO), resulting in a 9-5 loss in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

The Leathernecks started strong, securing a five-run lead in the third inning. This early boost came from consecutive two-run singles by Liam Bushey and Matt Olive, while Kyree Alexander contributed significantly by going 2-3 at the plate. Olive and Bushey were responsible for all four of WIU's runs batted in. Three out of the total five hits for WIU occurred during this productive third inning. However, SEMO retaliated with nine unanswered runs, culminating in a series sweep.

From the pitching side, Eric Rawlings delivered a 3.2-inning performance from the bullpen, during which he allowed two runs, one of which was earned, and achieved a season-high by striking out seven.

The current season record for WIU stands at 6-17. They are scheduled to return to action on Tuesday, April 1, when they will travel to St. Louis, Missouri, to face the Saint Louis Bilikens. The game is set to begin at 6 p.m.

To stay updated on all Leatherneck baseball information, fans are encouraged to visit GoLeathernecks.com, and they can follow real-time updates via X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.