West Central Reporter

Western Illinois University Baseball celebrated a significant victory on Tuesday night by defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes with a score of 7-3. This win marks the end of an 11-year streak of losses on the road against Big Ten teams, with their last victory being on April 15, 2014, also against Iowa.

Harrison Dubois began the game strong, pitching three innings where he allowed only two hits without any runs and achieved two strikeouts. The Leathernecks took an early lead with Liam Bushey and Krayton Morse hitting singles, and Tyler Large securing an RBI on a fielder's choice, placing WIU ahead 1-0 in the first inning.

The Leathernecks built on their lead in the fifth inning, taking advantage of the bases being loaded and no outs. Brock Lummus hit an RBI single, which was followed by a walk from Kyree Alexander with the bases loaded, further extending the lead. Kenneth Perez scored on a wild pitch, ending the inning with a 4-0 lead for WIU.

WIU's offensive momentum continued, scoring again in the seventh inning thanks to Kenneth Perez and Kyree Alexander, who both hit doubles and contributed to the score. The Leathernecks added another run in the ninth inning, ending with a 7-2 lead before the final half-inning.

WIU's team demonstrated effective plate discipline, drawing a total of eight walks during the game. Kenneth Perez and Kyree Alexander were standout performers, both going 2-4 at the plate. Perez scored twice, and Alexander added two RBIs with his contributions.

The Leathernecks' bullpen contributed significantly with Jackson Rodgers securing his second win of the season. Rodgers, Karsten Stotlar, and Billy Humphrey collectively managed Iowa's offense, allowing only a few runs across six innings. Humphrey notably achieved five strikeouts, a personal season high.

WIU will host the Lindenwood Lions next in a three-game series, starting on Friday with Alumni Weekend festivities in Macomb. The first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.

"FOLLOW THE LEATHERNECKS For all the latest information on Leatherneck Baseball, please visit GoLeathernecks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Leathernecks on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook."