WESTERWINDS MAKE HISTORY 5/12

The Western Illinois softball team made history last weekend in Cedar City, Utah, becoming the first #4 seed to win the Summit League Tournament. Western upset #1 Centenary, #2 Southern Utah and #3 IPFW on its way to the title. WIU pounded IPFW 17-2 in the championship game on Saturday. Nikki Marinec and Samantha Valentine were named Tournament Co-MVP's, while Colleen Biebel, Lori Pankratz, Britt Mason and Courtney Jacobson made the All-Tournament Team. The 14-31 Westerwinds are headed to the NCAA's for the first time since 2001. They'll face #11 Northwestern in the Evanston Regional on May 16.

WESTERWINDS MAKE CONFERENCE TOURNEY 5/5

The Westerwinds softball team took 3 from UMKC last weekend in Macomb. Western won twice on Saturday to clinch the final spot in the Summit League Tournament, which begins May 9 in Cedar City, Utah. The Westerwinds beat UMKC 5-3 on Sunday behind a 2-run homer from Julie DePolo. Samantha Valentine had the game-winning RBI for the 11-31 Westerwinds, who finish conference play with a mark of 9-10.

WIU BASEBALL SWEEPS SOUTHERN UTAH 5/5

The Leatherneck baseball team completed a 4-game sweep of Southern Utah Sunday with a 4-3 win. Brett Pendell had a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth for the 15-26 Leathernecks. Western won the series-opener Friday 18-5 and took both games Saturday, 5-4 and 5-1. Western is now 8-8 in the Summit League and is back in the postseason picture. The Leathernecks are off for finals week and will host North Dakota State on May 10.

WIU BASEBALL TOPS COE COLLEGE 5/2

Drew Laidig hit a pair of home runs and the Leatherneck baseball team snapped a 7-game losing streak Thursday with a 12-8 victory over Coe College in Macomb. Ryan Schmidt pitched 6 innings and got the win. The 11-26 Leathernecks host Southern Utah in a pivotal conference series this weekend.

LEATHERNECK LINEBACKER DRAFTED BY CFL 5/1

Western Illinois junior Mike McEachern was selected as the 22nd overall pick in the Canadien League Draft Wednesday, chosen sixth in the third round by the BC Lions. Mike, whose father Ken is a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders Hall of Fame, was the fifth linebacker taken overall. McEachern was fourth on the team with 59 total tackles last season and will return to the Leathernecks for his senior season.

WIU BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL LOSE ON THE ROAD 5/1

The Leatherneck baseball team struggled offensively Wednesday in a 6-1 loss at #6 Nebraska. Western had just 5 hits on the day and got its lone RBI from Cooper Stewart. The 10-26 Leathernecks will host Southern Utah in a key conference series this weekend. The Westerwinds softball team lost a 2-0 decision Wednesday at Iowa. Lori Pankratz struck out 6 and held the Hawkeyes scoreless until the fourth. Western falls to 8-31 and will host conference foe UMKC this weekend.

HUSKERS TOP THE LEATHERNECKS IN LINCOLN 4/30

The Western Illinois baseball team dropped its first game of the year against a Top-10 opponent Tuesday, falling at #6 Nebraska 6-4. Western out-hit the Huskers 11-8 and got 2 hits apiece from Lorenzo Gallaga and Tyler Metcalf. The 10-25 Leathernecks will visit Nebraska again this afternoon.

WESTERWINDS DROP A PAIR AT HOME 4/30

The Westerwinds softball team lost twice to St. Louis University Tuesday in Macomb. 3-2 and 6-4 were the finals at Mary Ellen McKee Stadium. Julie DePolo was 5-6 on the day for WIU with a homer and 2 RBI, but Western falls to 8-30 overall. Holly Van Vlymen's team will visit Iowa tonight at 7PM.

LEATHERNECK GOLF DOES IT AGAIN 4/23

The WIU men's golf team won its third-straight Summit League Championship Tuesday in Macomb. Western entered the day three shots back of leader UMKC and shot eight-under par in the final round to take the title. Kyle Peterman of Western captured the individual title after winning a playoff match to break a tie for first. He carded a final round 68 (-4) as did his teammate Austin Lambert. Peterman and Jared Steger were named to the Summit League First Team and Jason Woll made the second team. Western coach Mel Blasi was named Coach-of-the-Year for the fourth time. The Leathernecks are awaiting placement in the NCAA Tournament, which begins on May 15.

WIU OFFENSE TAKES A CLOSE SPRING GAME 4/21

The WIU football team concluded its 4-week spring season Saturday with the annual Bruce Craddock Memorial Spring Game at Hanson Field. Tom Casey's defense held the offense without a touchdown, but still lost 27-24 under the modified scoring system. Jason Williams led the defense with 10 tackles. Herb Donaldson ran 12 times for 72 yards and Taylor Rowan added a 53-yard field goal. Starting quarterback Matt Barr was 8-15 for 71 yards and was intercepted once. The Leathernecks will open the 2008 season at Arkansas on August 30.

WIU FINDS ITS MAN 4/11

Jim Molinari is being introduced Friday as the 19th head coach in the history of WIU men's basketball. The former head man at Northern Illinois, Bradley and Minnesota accepted a contract offer from WIU Thursday after Ray Harper cut his Macomb visit short. Molinari is a defensive-minded coach who has graduated nearly 90 percent of his student-athletes. He has an overall record of 223-186 and inherits a program that has lost 206 games in the last 10 years. Molinari replaces Derek Thomas, who resigned in March after going 40-104 in 5 seasons at the helm.

WIU GETTING CLOSER 4/9

As WJEQ first reported Tuesday, the search to find the next men's basketball coach at Western Illinois has been narrowed to two finalists. Current Ball State assistant Jim Molinari visited Macomb Tuesday and spoke with WIU officials. Molinari has compiled a record of 225-184 as a head coach at Northern Illinois, Bradley and Minnesota. Former Kentucky Wesleyan and Oklahoma City coach Ray Harper will arrive in Macomb Wednesday night and interview on Thursday. Harper is a seven-time national coach of the year and has guided his teams to four national championships. A press conference has tentatively been set for Friday to announce Derek Thomas' successor.

WIU STRUGGLES IN SUMMIT ACTION 4/7

The Western Illinois baseball and softball teams went a combined 1-6 in conference play last weekend. The Leathernecks lost 3 of 4 to Oakland in Macomb. WIU won the opener 6-1, but lost twice on Saturday 11-1 and 5-0. On Sunday, the Leathernecks led 9-4 going into the 9th inning and lost the game 11-9. Western had 11 errors and 30 stranded runners in the series and drops to 7-17 overall and 1-3 in the Summit League. The Westerwinds lost 3 conference games at North Dakota State last weekend. Western fell 4-1 and 6-2 on Saturday and lost 4-1 on Sunday. The Westerwinds are 3-20 overall and 2-3 in the Summit League.

LEATHERNECKS STUN THE TIGERS 4/2

For the second time this season, the Western Illinois University baseball team has defeated an opponent ranked in the Top 10. The Leathernecks grabbed an early lead Tuesday night in Columbia andheld on to beat #4 Missouri 5-3. Zach Berg had 2 hits and scored 2 runs for Western, which got a strong pitching performance from starter Ben Percival. WIU beat then #7 Long Beach State 3-0 on March 11 and has set another school-record for the highest ranked opponent defeated. The Leathernecks improve to 5-14 overall.

WIU COACHING UPDATE 3/28

Western Illinois Director of Athletics Dr. Tim Van Alstine addressed the media Thursday to update the search for a new men's basketball coach. Over 60 applications have been received since Derek Thomas announced his resignation roughly 3 weeks ago. Dr. Van Alstine said a search committee is in place and will forward the best 8-12 candidates to him. A smaller number of candidates will be brought to campus after the Final Four and a decision is expected in mid-April.

WIU BASEBALL DROPS 4 AT PURDUE 3/24

The Leatherneck baseball team lost 4 games at Purdue last weekend. Western lost a pair of games Saturday 6-0 and 8-0 and lost 2 more Sunday 11-2 and 22-10. Stan Hyman's team falls to 1-12 and will play its home-opener this Friday, March 28 against Chicago State. The first pitch goes out at 3:30PM.

LEATHERNECK COACH DEREK THOMAS RESIGNS  3/12

Western Illinois men's basketball coach Derek Thomas announced his resignation Tuesday after 5 seasons on the job. Thomas compiled an overall record of 40-104 with his most successful season coming this year at 12-18. The Leathernecks qualified for 4 conference tournaments under Thomas, losing in the first round 4 times.  WIU Director of Athletics Dr. Tim Van Alstine said, 'Our expectations for a winning record and successful performance on the court have not been met'. A search for Thomas' replacement begins immediately.

OAKLAND ELIMINATES LEATHERNECKS  3/11

The sixth-seeded Leatherneck basketball team lost to #3 Oakland Sunday 80-66 in the quarterfinals of the 2008 Summit League Men's Basketball Championship in Tulsa.  Western trailed 37-23 at halftime and shot 34 percent from the floor.  James Washington led WIU with 20 points and David Dubois scored 18.  The Leathernecks, still looking for their first postseason victory since 1999, finish the year with a record of 12-18.

WESTERWINDS UPSET BY UMKC  3/10

The second-seeded Westerwinds basketball team lost to seventh-seeded UMKC 62-55 Saturday in the quarterfinals of the 2008 Summit League Women's Basketball Championship in Tulsa.  Western trailed 28-21 at the half and shot just 28 percent from the floor.  Gina Hugelier led WIU with 17 points and Nicole Myers scored 12.  Leslie Crane's team finishes the year with a record of 14-16.