Courtesy: Brock Wissmiller/Western Illinois Athletics Andrew Hagins' three-run homer proved to be the game-winner in Western's upset of No. 11 Oklahoma State.

STILLWATER, Okla. - John Sneegas picked up his first Division I victory in Western Illinois’ game two victory over No. 11 Oklahoma State, 7-4, avenging a game one loss of 30-3, at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.

Game 1
Starting pitcher Chris Fuchs (0-3) had all he could handle over the first 1.2 innings of the game for the Leathernecks (1-8). After the Cowboys (14-4) put three on the board in the first, they added a pair of two-run homers off of Fuchs in the second to knock him out of the game, trailing 7-0.

The offense bounced back in the top of the third as Tyler Tilbury drew a leadoff walk and Cooper Stewart followed with a single. After a groundout, Cole Waddell singled up the middle, picking up two RBIs on the play. A Drew Laidig single pushed Waddell to third and Laidig was able to advance to second after getting in a rundown. Delivering the fourth hit of the inning was Andrew Hagins, which allowed Waddell to score easily from third. However, Laidig was gunned down at the plate trying to score from second, ending the threat with Western trailing, 7-3.

Randon Lingle managed to work a 1-2-3 bottom of the third inning, which would be the last inning Western shutout Oklahoma State in the opener. The home team scored in every inning from then on, highlighted by six runs in the fourth and seventh. The Cowboys finished the onslaught with three in the bottom of the eighth, making the final score 30-3.

The Leatherneck bats managed to collect nine hits during the game, the last of which came off the bat of Tyler Metcalf to lead off the sixth. Two of those hits, including Metcalf’s, were negated by double play ground balls.

Stewart led the sticks with a perfect three-for-three mark at the plate, while Laidig added a pair of hits in his four at-bats for game one.

“Our post game talk was about how we’re not going to be remembered for what happened in game one, it’s going to be what happens in game two,” said Western Illinois head coach Stan Hyman. “We said whether we win it or lose it, this team will be defined by how we respond in the second game.”

Game 2
It was truly a tale of two games as the Leathernecks (2-8) showed no effects from the opener of the day, as Sneegas (1-1) collected his first Division I win against No. 11 Oklahoma State.

Hagins broke open a 2-2 tie in the top of the fifth with a three-run homer to right, his second of the year. The blast brought in Waddell and Laidig, who each had walked, making the score 5-2.

The Cowboys (14-5) fought back with an RBI single in the sixth to cut their deficit to 5-3.

Western got some insurance runs in the top of the eighth as Waddell reached on a bunt single to get things rolling. Jared Wolf then attempted a sac bunt and a throwing error on the pitcher allowed him to reach and advanced Waddell to third. Doubling to right field was Laidig, who picked up a pair of RBIs on the play, extending the advantage to 7-3.

After giving up a leadoff double in the ninth and surrendering a wild pitch, a bunt single allowed Oklahoma Sate to plate another run off Sneegas and forced coach Hyman to turn the game over to Eric Eden. Making just his third career appearance out of the bullpen, Eden was able to record the first two outs of the inning with keeping just two runners on. A free pass after the second out loaded that bases and brought the go-ahead run to the plate. Inducing a ground ball to first ended the threat and the game, giving Western the upset victory and Eden his first career save.

Sneegas looked strong all night on the hill. After surrendering a pair of runs in the first, one of which was unearned, he settled down and found his command. The junior out of Lawrence, Kan., went on to throw eight plus innings, striking out five and walking three, while scattering seven hits.

“Sneegas threw as great of a baseball game as I’ve seen in a while,” Hyman said of his starter. “It reminded me so much of Eden’s performance at Long Beach State a year ago. John kept them off balance for eight innings and was able to head out to the mound in the ninth against one of the best hitting teams we’ll see. He was throwing four pitches for strikes all evening.”

The start of the game looked bleak as the Cowboys put two on the board in the bottom of the first, one coming off a throwing error, for the 2-0 lead.

“When they put that two spot up in the first I’m sure a lot of people were thinking here we go again,” Hyman added. “We came right back to tie it and Hagins three-run homer gave us the confidence we needed to know we could do it.”

The Leathernecks took advantage of a miscue in the top of the third however to even the score up. After Wolf and Laidig single to start the frame, a throwing error on a grounder to second by Hagins brought Wolf in and moved Laidig to third.  A strikeout put the first out on the board but it was another throwing error at second, this time with Darren Spicer at the plate that allowed Laidig to cross the plate with the tying run.  

“I was as proud of our team tonight as I can ever remember being in my career,” Hyman said of his team’s effort. “Everyone showed heart and determination, and we realized that we are a good baseball team that had just been playing badly. We finally put it together against the No. 11 team in the country. To Oklahoma State’s credit, the tying run came to the plate in the ninth. It’s never easy to beat the No. 11 team in the country, but no one ever said that it would be.”

Laidig finished the day with four hits and two RBIs. Picking up three hits on the day were Metcalf, Stewart and Waddell, while Hagins drove in a team best five runs over the double dip.

The Leathernecks conclude their 10-day road trip when they head to Iowa City, Iowa, to battle the Hawkeyes Saturday, March 21, in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.