Western Courier

Issue date: 4/16/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Adam Sacasa Junior Eric Eden delivers a pitch during Monday's fourth and final game of the series against IPFW.

Media Credit: Adam Sacasa Junior shortstop Lorenzo Gallaga rounds second base against IPFW Monday. He went 4-for-7 on the day.

The Leathernecks baseball team moved to 4-4 in Summit League play, winning both games of its doubleheader against IPFW Monday.

After dropping the first game of the series, Western Illinois (10-19, 4-4 Summit League) made the necessary changes and beat the Mastodons (7-21, 3-5 Summit) in three straight games. The 'Necks won Game 3 by a score of 4-0 and Game 4, 9-3.

"We really had our backs against the wall at that point, especially how we played after the first game," said coach Stan Hyman. "You are just trying to win a ball game. But to get back on track, take three straight, getting back to .500 and get back in the playoff race, it's enormous."

The starting pitchers have been the highlight of the team so far this year, and senior Mark DiBernardo and junior Eric Eden continued that trend Monday. DiBernardo pitched all seven innings in the first game of the doubleheader.

In his seven innings of shutout work, DiBernardo showed control of all of his pitches, getting ahead of the IPFW lineup and never surrendering a walk. He only allowed three hits and flew through the shortened game, allowing more than one runner on base one time in the sixth inning and quickly removing them on a double play.

Eden missed his scheduled start in Game 1 Sunday due to arm soreness but returned to the rotation in the final game of the series. He matched DiBernardo's seven innings and allowed only two runs, one earned. Eden made IPFW rallies almost impossible, not walking a single batter and making clutch pitches to get himself out of jams.

Western's defense has been shaky at times this year but locked down its play after Game 1. The infield kept its errors to a minimum, and the outfield played flawlessly. The solid defense made Western's "pitch to contact" style even more effective Monday, and the two starters said it gave them extra confidence.

"(Good defense) is huge," Eden said. "Especially in a situation when you are tight or sore, keeping the pitch count down, and (the defense) make plays behind you."

"Can't ask for anything else," DiBernardo said. "I felt good and just trusted the defense behind me. It's easier to pitch if you're not giving them extra outs."

The offense came alive after a change at the lead-off spot sent junior Lorenzo Gallaga out as the starting shortstop in place of struggling senior Kyle Surprenant. Gallaga lit up the Mastodons' pitching and went 4-for-7 on Monday, batting .700 in the series. Gallaga won the Summit League Player of the Week after this weekend's impressive performance at the plate and his work off the bench.

"Gallaga is a spark, a spark that may explode in my head, but he is an offensive machine," Hyman said of Gallaga, who batted well but struggled on the bases. "(Gallaga) was supposed to be our lead-off hitter, and he was going to be the main cog in the wheel to get everything going. He proved in the last three games that he is capable of doing that. If we get his base running under control, we will be fine."

The rest of the offense followed Gallaga's lead and showed progress in its ability to score runs late in games, spreading nine runs between four different rallies.

Western seems to be back on the right track, and after this week's three-game series against Alabama A&M was canceled, the 'Necks will have extra practice before traveling to play Oral Roberts this weekend.

The four-game series in Tulsa, Okla., will start Friday at 7 p.m.

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