Upcoming Event: Baseball at Oklahoma State on March 17, 2026 at 6 p.m.
/
6 p.m.
Baseball
at Oklahoma State
South Dakota State University Athletics
Sunday, May 1
Brookings, S.D.
1:00 PM
South Dakota State University
17-26, 11-10
1
vs
3
Western Illinois
13-26, 10-11
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
8th innning8
9th innning9
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Western Illinois
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
3
7
2
South Dakota State
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
3
1
Photo by: Jason Salzman
Late Western rally sinks Jackrabbits
5/1/2016 4:35:00 PM | Baseball
Western Illinois scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning, taking advantage of the lone Jackrabbit error of the game, to defeat South Dakota State, 3-1, in the decisive game of a three-game Summit League baseball series Sunday afternoon at Erv Huether Field.
The Fighting Leathernecks, who won the regular season series by a 4-2 count, improved to 13-26 overall and 10-11 in The Summit League. SDSU dropped to 17-26 overall and 11-10 in league play.
The game was a pitchers' duel throughout as the game was scoreless through four innings. SDSU broke into the scoring column with an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth off Western starter Matthew Sturchio. With two outs and runners on first and second, Phil Velez hit a ground ball to shortstop but Chris Tschida's throw was off the mark, allowing Anthony Schneider to score.
Jackrabbit starter Ryan Froom made that lead stand up through seven innings. The junior right-hander extended his scoreless innings streak to 10 before exiting after allowing an infield single to Roman Visintine to lead off the eighth. Reliever Greg Casper retired the first man he faced, but walked the next two batters to load the bases.
Chris Halbur then entered to pitch and surrendered the tying run on a successful squeeze bunt by Nick Schrader. The Jackrabbits appeared on the verge of escaping the inning with a tie, but Newt Johnson's throw in the dirt after a grounder off the bat of Conner Currier allowed the go-ahead run to score and Mark Garton followed with a single left that plated the third run of the frame.
Western Illinois reliever Nate Westfahl retired the last eight batters he faced over his four-inning stint of one-hit baseball to earn his first victory of the season. He struck out four and walked one. Sturchio recorded a pair of strikeouts and walked one in five innings.
Froom struck out six, walked two and scattered five hits over seven-plus innings in finishing with a no-decision.
Visintine tallied three of Western Illinois' seven hits, including a pair of doubles.
SDSU managed only three hits in the game, including a double by Newt Johnson. Luke Ringhofer singled in the first inning, extending his streak of reaching base safely by either a hit or a walk to 35 games.
The Jackrabbits continue their homestand with a three-game series May 6-8 against Fort Wayne. First pitch for Friday's series opener is set for 3 p.m.
WESTERN ILLINOIS 3, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 1
WIUÂ Â Â Â Â Â 000Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 000Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 030Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3-7-2
SDSUÂ Â Â Â 000Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 010Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 000Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1-3-1
WIU: Matthew Sturchio, Nate Westfahl (6) and Adam McGinnis. SDSU: Ryan Froom, Greg Casper (8), Chris Halbur (8) and Luke Ringhofer.
W-Westfahl (1-0). L-Casper (0-3). Save-none.
HR: none.
Â
The Fighting Leathernecks, who won the regular season series by a 4-2 count, improved to 13-26 overall and 10-11 in The Summit League. SDSU dropped to 17-26 overall and 11-10 in league play.
The game was a pitchers' duel throughout as the game was scoreless through four innings. SDSU broke into the scoring column with an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth off Western starter Matthew Sturchio. With two outs and runners on first and second, Phil Velez hit a ground ball to shortstop but Chris Tschida's throw was off the mark, allowing Anthony Schneider to score.
Jackrabbit starter Ryan Froom made that lead stand up through seven innings. The junior right-hander extended his scoreless innings streak to 10 before exiting after allowing an infield single to Roman Visintine to lead off the eighth. Reliever Greg Casper retired the first man he faced, but walked the next two batters to load the bases.
Chris Halbur then entered to pitch and surrendered the tying run on a successful squeeze bunt by Nick Schrader. The Jackrabbits appeared on the verge of escaping the inning with a tie, but Newt Johnson's throw in the dirt after a grounder off the bat of Conner Currier allowed the go-ahead run to score and Mark Garton followed with a single left that plated the third run of the frame.
Western Illinois reliever Nate Westfahl retired the last eight batters he faced over his four-inning stint of one-hit baseball to earn his first victory of the season. He struck out four and walked one. Sturchio recorded a pair of strikeouts and walked one in five innings.
Froom struck out six, walked two and scattered five hits over seven-plus innings in finishing with a no-decision.
Visintine tallied three of Western Illinois' seven hits, including a pair of doubles.
SDSU managed only three hits in the game, including a double by Newt Johnson. Luke Ringhofer singled in the first inning, extending his streak of reaching base safely by either a hit or a walk to 35 games.
The Jackrabbits continue their homestand with a three-game series May 6-8 against Fort Wayne. First pitch for Friday's series opener is set for 3 p.m.
WESTERN ILLINOIS 3, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 1
WIUÂ Â Â Â Â Â 000Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 000Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 030Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3-7-2
SDSUÂ Â Â Â 000Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 010Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 000Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1-3-1
WIU: Matthew Sturchio, Nate Westfahl (6) and Adam McGinnis. SDSU: Ryan Froom, Greg Casper (8), Chris Halbur (8) and Luke Ringhofer.
W-Westfahl (1-0). L-Casper (0-3). Save-none.
HR: none.
Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Nate Westfahl (1-0)
L: Casper, Greg (0-3)
Batting:
2B: Roman Visintine 2
RBI: Nick Schrader 1 ; Mark Garton 1
SH: Nick Schrader 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Roman Visintine 1 ; Deion Thompson 1 ; Adam McGinnis 1
SB: Cord Church 1
PO: Roman Visintine 1
Batting:
2B: Johnson, Newt 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Schneider, Anthony 1
SB: Velez, Phil 1
HBP: Schneider, Anthony 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
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RHP
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RHP
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