WESTERN STEALS 6-5 WIN IN SERIES FINALE

Sunday, March 28

Macomb, Ill.

1 p.m.

South Dakota State University

7-13, 0

Western Illinois

8-13, 0

South Dakota State

Western Illinois

Photo by: SDSU Sports Information

3/28/2021 6:09:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

MACOMB, Ill. – For the second day in a row, Western Illinois scored in its last at-bat to pull out a Summit League baseball victory. Sunday, the Leathernecks tallied a run in the bottom of the ninth to defeat South Dakota State, 6-5, and take the weekend series three games to one.

The Leathernecks improved to 8-13 overall and 4-4 in league play. SDSU dropped to 7-13 overall and 2-6 in The Summit League.

The game was a pitchers' duel through the first six innings between Western's Brian Raymond and Jackrabbit freshman Owen Bishop. SDSU was held to two hits two-thirds of the way through the game, while Bishop allowed three hits through the first six frames.

SDSU broke into the scoring column in the top of the seventh on a three-run home run by freshman Jordan Sagedahl off Raymond, scoring Derek Hackman and Landon Badger ahead of him. Hackman opened the inning by being hit by a pitch and moved to third on a double by Badger.

Western Illinois responded with a five-run home half of the seventh. Bishop began the inning on the mound and allowed a leadoff triple to Chase VanDerGinst, followed by a run-scoring single to Toby Allred. Bret Barnett entered in relief with two outs and a runner on third, but allowed the Leathernecks to take the lead without a ball leaving the infield. Three straight walks coupled with three wild pitches, a passed ball and infield single led to the Western runs.

The Jackrabbits came right back to tie the game at 5-all on a pinch-hit, two-run home run by Ryan McDonald with Drake Frazier aboard. Frazier led off the inning with a double and paced the Jackrabbit offense with two of the team's six hits.

Kevin Raisbeck started the game-winning rally in the ninth for Western with a leadoff double against Drew Beazley. After moving to third on a sacrifice bunt, Raisbeck scored on VanDerGinst's single through the right side with two outs. VanDerGinst was 3-for-5, while Trenton Bauer added two of the Leathernecks' nine hits.

Bishop struck out six and did not walk a batter in his 6 2/3 innings of work.

Raymond finished with 10 strikeouts and walked two in six-plus innings. Austin Edwards pitched a scoreless ninth inning to pick up the victory.

UP NEXT
South Dakota State returns to nonconference action next weekend, playing a four-game series at Evansville. Friday's series opener is set for 6 p.m. at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville, Indiana.

NOTES

SDSU leads the all-time series, 38-28; the two teams are scheduled to play another four-game series April 16-18 in Brookings
Five of the Jackrabbits' six hits went for extra bases – three doubles and two home runs
SDSU hit two or more home runs in a game for the third time season
McDonald homered for the second consecutive Sunday
Hackman reached base safely for the 19^th game in a row

-GoJacks.com-