West Central Reporter

The Western Illinois University Baseball team was narrowly defeated by the University of Tennessee at Martin in the opening game of their OVC series on Friday night, finishing 4-3. Max Tripure, the starting pitcher, delivered a solid performance for WIU, pitching 6.1 innings and allowing seven hits and two runs. Although Tripure's stint provided a strong foundation, the Leathernecks could not muster more than three runs from nine hits.

The Skyhawks scored their first run in the bottom of the first inning, but Tripure held them off the scoreboard for the next three innings. The Leathernecks managed to equalize in the fifth inning. Kenneth Perez hit a single to center field to lead off, and a sacrifice bunt by Wandel Campana advanced him to second. Kyree Alexander's two-out RBI single drove Perez home, leveling the score. UT Martin responded immediately with a run in their half of the fifth to retake the lead at 2-1.

As the game progressed to the seventh inning, WIU tied it again. A walk for Campana followed by Matt Olive's RBI double allowed another tying run. Reliever Jason Buhl replaced Tripure in the seventh and struck out two batters, preserving the 2-2 scoreline. In the subsequent eighth inning, UT Martin added two more runs, pushing ahead 4-2.

In the top of the ninth inning, WIU's Olive drew a walk to start the inning. Liam Bushey hit a one-out double, advancing Olive to third, creating a potential comeback. Krayton Morse's sacrifice fly scored Olive, reducing the deficit to 4-3, but Tyler Large's fly out ended the game, leaving the Leathernecks one run short.

Offensively, Kenneth Perez, Paul Osting, and Liam Bushey each contributed with two hits. WIU takes to the field again tomorrow afternoon for the series' second game against UT Martin, scheduled for a 3 p.m. start.

For updates on Leatherneck Baseball, fans can visit GoLeathernecks.com and follow the team's social media channels including X, Instagram, and Facebook.