West Central Reporter

Western Illinois University's baseball team faced a defeat against Tennessee Tech during their second matchup of a three-game series at Alfred D. Boyer Stadium. The Leathernecks initially led 4-2 after four innings, but Tennessee Tech managed to equalize in the fifth inning and went on to secure a 10-5 victory.

Frederick Romano, the starting pitcher, achieved a season-high with seven strikeouts over four innings, allowing six hits and conceding four runs. Reliever Eric Rawlings pitched 4.2 innings, giving up six hits and allowing four earned runs on 57 pitches.

Tennessee Tech started with a 1-0 lead in the second inning before Western Illinois came back to lead 2-1. Kyree Alexander's single and a wild pitch set the stage for runs by Justin Bogard and Liam Bushey. Bushey's two-out double brought in both runners, ultimately giving the Leathernecks a temporary lead.

In the subsequent innings, Western Illinois extended their lead. Tyler Large's lead-off double in the third inning was followed by Paul Osting's double, helping to increase their score. Bushey also contributed with another significant single in the fourth inning. Despite Bushey's three hits and three RBIs, the game shifted when Tennessee Tech tied it by the fifth inning.

Tech's two runs in the seventh inning and a further four in the ninth ultimately tilted the game in their favor. Despite Kenneth Perez and Kyree Alexander fostering a rally in the seventh, Tennessee Tech maintained control. Three Leathernecks errors compounded the team's struggles during the game.

The series will conclude tomorrow evening with the final game set to begin at 1 p.m.

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