MACOMB, Ill. – Ryan Niedzwiedz tied the program record with his 35th career home run and Tim Teixeira struck out a season-high nine hitters as SIUE baseball defeated Western Illinois 4-2 Friday in the opener of a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series.
SIUE improved to 11-2 in the OVC and 21-17 overall. Western Illinois fell to 3-10 in the league and 9-26 overall.
Teixeira (5-4) matched his career high with seven innings pitched, which he has equaled in four consecutive starts. He also came within one of his career high in strikeouts. He allowed a run on three hits.
Joseph Martin allowed a run in an inning of relief. Easton Martin earned his OVC-leading eighth save of the year with a perfect ninth inning.
The Cougars loaded the bases with one out in the second inning thanks to three walks by WIU starter Max Tripure. Sean Kang drove home a run when he grounded into a fielder's choice and the Cougars led 1-0.
Joshua Heyder's ninth home run of the year leading off the fourth made it 2-0 Cougars. Gage Franck doubled and Sean Kang reached on an error sending Franck to third. Daniel Gierer laid down a bunt to bring in Franck for the 3-0 lead.
Western Illinois got on the board with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning.
Niedzwiedz's blast came leading off the seventh and was a line-drive shot down the right field line to make it 4-1. He finished 2-5 with the homer.
The Leathernecks got a solo home run from Krayton Morse leading off the eighth inning.
SIUE outhit Western Illinois 7-4 in the game.
The second game of the weekend series is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday.
