– Western Illinois rallied in the eighth inning, but host Southern Illinois regained the lead for good late in the game in an 8-6 decision on Friday afternoon (March 3).SIU (5-4 overall) took an early 3-0 in the second inning of, who came into the game having allowed just one earned run in 11.2 innings. The Salukis added two more in the fifth to go ahead 5-0, but the Leathernecks (0-8) started their rally in the sixth.started the inning getting hit by a pitch. He took second onsingle with one down, and went to third onwalk.lifted a flyball to right field, allowing McGinnis to score and make it 5-1.got his first base hit of the 2017 season in the seventh inning, and he went to third whendoubled. McGinnis reached on a fielder's choice error, which allowed Currier to score. Visintine scored onRBI groundout.Western took the lead in the eighth inning. Tschida singled with one out, then pinch-hitterwalked. Currier drew a walk to load the bases.got his first RBI as a Leatherneck on a fielder's choice, then Visintine followed with another groundout. McGinnis capped the three-run frame and gave WIU a 6-5 lead thanks to a RBI double to left centerfield.Southern quickly responded in its half of the eighth. A single and throwing error, followed by a sacrifice bunt, put two runners in scoring position with one down. A hit batter, single, another hit batter and walk put SIU ahead by the eventual final margin. Western went down in order in its half of the ninth.Koch earned a no-decision, allowing five runs on 10 hits in 6.0 innings. He walked two and struck out five.(0-2) gave up an earned run on two hits in one inning of work.came on in relief of the game, and allowed a run on a hit in that frame.Visintine and Tschida had two hits apiece, and McGinnis finished with a team-leading two RBI.Game two of the series in Carbondale is scheduled for a 2 p.m. first pitch.