MACOMB, Ill. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball allowed three big innings to Western Illinois University, falling 15-5 in the Ohio Valley Conference 2025 opener Friday afternoon in Macomb, Illinois. USI is 8-13 overall and 0-1 in the OVC after today’s game, while WIU goes 6-12, 1-0 OVC this year.
The Screaming Eagles found themselves in a hole after the first frame as the Leathernecks scored five times in the first to lead 5-0. USI would cut the deficit to three with a pair of runs in the third inning to make the score 5-2.
USI junior first baseman Kannon Coakley drove in the first run with an RBI double to right center to score senior centerfielder Khi Holiday, who had walked and advanced to second on a ground out. Coakley would cross the plate with USI’s second run when sophomore rightfielder Cameron Boyd doubled off the right center wall for the RBI.
The Leathernecks responded by scoring 10 unanswered runs, four in the fifth, two in the sixth, and four in the seventh to lead 15-2. USI answered with three runs in the top of the ninth on an RBI single by junior catcher Micajah Wall and a two-run double by Holiday before WIU closed out the 15-5 final.
On the mound for USI, junior right-hander Andres Gonzalez started and took the loss. Gonzalez (0-3) allowed seven runs on five hits and four walks, while striking out five in 4.1 innings of work.
Up Next for the Eagles:
The Eagles and the Leathernecks continue the series Saturday and conclude Sunday. Both games are scheduled for 1 p.m.
USI returns home to the USI Baseball Field March 28-30 when the Eagles host the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for a three-game OVC series.
