MACOMB, Ill.-- Coming out of a seven-day spring break road trip, Western Illinois opens season play at home with a doubleheader against Big 12 Iowa State, Wed., Mar. 21 at 2:30 p.m. at Mary Ellen McKee Stadium.
HEADING INTO THE GAME
The Westerwinds (7-14) have completed four tournaments on the road and two doubleheaders. Coming out of the Missouri Tournament with a tournament record of 2-3, Western Illinois fell to Missouri, 10-8 in the final game of the tournament.
The Cyclones (15-22) come to Macomb off a 10-1 loss to Cal Poly at the Capital Classic held in Sacramento, Calif. Iowa State finished the tournament with a 3-2 record, picking up wins over Mercer, Sacramento State and Santa Clara.
This is the final non-conference game played for both teams before conference play begins later this week.
IOWA STATE AT A GLANCE
Iowa State's Alex Johnson currently leads at the plate with a .325 batting average. Johnson has recorded 38 hits, four home runs, four doubles, and 17 RBIs in 117 at bats.
On the mound for the Cyclones is Charissa Carlin with a 2.27 ERA. Carlin (8-5) has struck out 68, walked five, and allowed 86 hits in 330 at bats.
WATCH LIVE AT ROCKY VISION
Western Illinois fans can go to Rocky Vision on the Western Illinois athletics web site to watch the first home game of the season live. For more information on how to watch the games and for prices, click on the previous link or check online at www.wiuathletics.com.
SPRING BREAK ROAD TRIP RECAP
The Westerwinds played nine games over the seven day spring break. Beginning the week with back-to-back doubleheaders, Western fell to Tulsa in the first two games and defeated Arkansas in the second two. The Missouri Tournament wrapped up the final three days on the road with an 8-0 shutout over Columbia College, a loss to No. 7 Northwestern and a 1-2 record against Missouri. Western Illinois finished the road trip with a 4-5 spring break record.
LEADING THE WESTERWINDS AT BAT
Junior first baseman Samantha Valentine currently leads the Westerwinds at the plate with a .322 batting average and 19 hits, 11 runs and 13 RBIs in 59 at bats. Not far behind Valentine is teammate Nicole Green, who currently has a .314 batting average with 16 hits, five runs, and 12 RBIs in 51 at bats.
LEADER OF THE PACK
Since the season began, Western Illinois has had six different lead-off hitters. Jennifer Garcia has led her team in the batting lineup 10 times, Lindsey Hession has led six times, Lauren Furgala has led twice and other leaders have included Amy Douglas, Britt Mason and Julie DePolo. The Westerwinds are 4-6 when Garcia is the leadoff hitter and 2-4 when Hession leads.
SPRING CLEANING
The Westerwinds have had four different cleanup hitters in the batting lineup this season. Green has done the most cleaning up with 10 different occasions. Green has made 15 appearances as the designated hitter and is second on the team in batting.
STOP THAT THIEF!
DePolo leads the team in stolen bases and has stolen eight bases in nine attempts. Not far behind DePolo, teammates Mason and Hession have been successful in stealing seven bases in eight attempts. Furgala (6-for-6), Amy Douglas (2-for-2) and Racheal Heagney (1-for-1) have never been caught stealing. As a team, Western Illinois has been successful in stealing 36 bases in 42 attempts.
PERFECT IN THE FIELD
Mason has been perfect in the outfield committing no errors with 23 putouts and one assist for a 1.000 fielding percentage.
GOING STREAKING
Heading into the upcoming tournament Douglas, Mason, Green and Valentine hold a three-game hitting streak. Garcia currently has a two-game hitting streak, but leads with the longest streak of five games and seven multiple hit games.
BRING 'EM HOME
Leading at the plate, Valentine also leads in bringing home the runs with 13 RBIs and 11 runs scored. Valentine has a .364 batting average with there are runners in scoring position. Green is also in double digits with 12 RBIs and is 7-for-16 at the plate when runners are in scoring position.
THE COMPETITION AHEAD
The Westerwinds will face teams from eight conferences other than the Mid-Con in 51 regular-season games. Highlighting the schedule from the Big Ten Conference is 2006 World Series runner-up Northwestern, in addition to Indiana, Minnesota and Illinois. Competition from the Big 12 will come from Nebraska, Missouri, and Iowa State. Other conferences to make up the 2007 schedule include the Southeastern Conference, Missouri Valley, Mid-American, Conference USA, the Horizon and the Atlantic 10.
