FARGO, N.D. - The Western Illinois softball team faces South Dakota State in the opening round of The Summit League Tournament on Friday, May 14 at 10 a.m.
The Fighting Leathernecks (33-17, 19-2 Summit League) face No. 4 seed South Dakota State (19-30, 11-9 Summit League) in the first game of The Summit League Tournament hosted by North Dakota State. All games will by played at the Ellig Sports Complex.
Ticket Information
Tickets for the Summit League Softball Tournament
are $6 for adults and $4 for youth 17-and-under and college students
with an ID ... Tickets are available at the Bison Sports Arena ticket
office OR at the Ellig Sports Complex on gameday ... Gates at the Ellig
Sports Complex will open 60 minutes prior to first pitch each day ...
For more information, call 1-888-231-NDSU (6378).
Tournament ScheduleFriday, May 14
10
a.m. - Game One: (1) Western Illinois vs. (4) South Dakota State
12:30
p.m. - Game Two: (2) IPFW vs. (3) North Dakota State
3 p.m. - Game
Three: Loser Game One vs. Loser Game 2
5:30 p.m. - Game Four: Winner
Game One vs. Winner Game Two
Saturday, May 15
11 a.m. - Game Five: Winner
Game Three vs. Loser Game Four
2 p.m. - Game Six (Championship Game):
Winner Game Four vs. Winner Game 6
* 4:30 p.m. - Game Seven
(Championship Game): Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6Tournament Coverage
Tournament Central
The Summit Leaguewww.thesummitleague.org
Radio
• WIUS (88.3 FM, Macomb) Flagship station
Julio Rausseo, play-by-play
Greg Lautzenheiser,
color analyst
Live
WIUS radio broadcast (Free)
In-Game
Updates via Twitter • @WIUSoftball
Live Stats • www.GoLeathernecks.com
The Opponents
South Dakota State
2010 record: 19-30
Summit League: 11-9/4th
Series: Western leads 5-1
Last: 4/25/09: WIU won 10-0 in Macomb
Head
Coach: Joanna Lane
Alma Mater, Year: Georgetown (Ky.), 2002School
record: 46-98 (2nd)Career record: SameAgainst South Dakota State: The series
Western leads the all-time series with South Dakota State, 5-1. The Leathernecks and Jackrabbits were scheduled to meet this season in Macomb on March 20-11, but inclement weather forced the cancelation of the three-game conference series.
Western dropped the first contest between the two teams, 9-12, in Macomb on April 12, 2008. The Leathernecks have rattled off five in a row over South Dakota State since that time.
Against South Dakota State: The last meeting
Western swept the Jackrabbits in Brookings, S.D., last season on April 24-25, 2009. The Leathernecks outscored South Dakota State 22-3 in the series sweep.
North Dakota State
2010 record: 30-23
Summit League: 14-8/3rd
Series: Western
trails 4-7
Last: 4/17/10: WIU lost 2-4 in Fargo
Head
Coach: Darren Mueller
Alma Mater, Year: North Dakota State, 1994School
record: 318-171 (9th)Career record: Same
Against North Dakota State: The series
The Leathernecks trail the Bison, 4-7, in the all-time series record. Western looks to change their road woes this weekend against North Dakota State as they are 1-5 when playing in Fargo.
Against North Dakota State: The last meeting
The Bison handed the Leathernecks their only two losses of the season in Summit League action when they took two of three in the conference series on April 16-17. In the doubleheader on April 16, Western dropped game one, 4-7, before bouncing back to win the second contest 4-2. The Bison took the final game of the series, 4-2, on April 17.
IPFW
2010 record: 28-17
Summit League: 17-6/2nd
Series: Western leads 13-0
Last: 4/24/10: WIU won 3-2 (10) in Macomb
Head
Coach: Amy Tudor
Alma Mater, Year: Western Kentucky, 2002School
record: 28-17 (1st)Career record: 109-160 (5th)Against IPFW: The series
The Leathernecks have never lost to the Mastodons, winning all 13 meetings between the two squads. Western's pitchers have tossed five shutouts since the first meeting between the two teams on March 22, 2002. The Leathernecks have never allowed more than two runs against the Mastodons.
Against IPFW: The last meeting
Western swept the Mastodons in the regular-season series on April 23-24 in Macomb. The Leathernecks shutout IPFW in the doubleheader on April 23 by scores of 6-0 and 1-0. The series finale would go to 10 innings, but Western won 3-2 via a walk-off single by Beth Golitko.
A Few Leatherneck NotesRecord Watch: Julie DePolo
On May 5, 2010 against Missouri, Julie DePolo broke the school record for career runs scored. The senior's 124 career runs ranks 10th all-time in Summit League history.
DePolo also sits in second place in career stolen bases (65) at Western Illinois in addition to ranking seventh in career hits (181) and triples (11), career home runs (14) and ninth in career RBI (86)
Record Watch: Kamren Ferguson
Kamren Ferguson only needs one more win from the circle to become Western's career leader in wins and move into second place in career wins in Summit League history. The senior broke four conference and school records this season, now ranking first in career appearances (143), games started (120), complete games (104) and innings pitched (848).
The Clinton, Ill., native also ranks second in conference and school history in career strikeouts (747) and third in career shutouts (31).
Record Watch: Lauren Furgala
Lauren Furgala has etched her name in the Western Illinois record books this season, ranking fourth in career stolen bases (58). The senior also ranks sixth in career doubles (43) and RBI (97) as well as ranking eighth in career home runs (14).
Record Watch: Lori Pankratz
In the Southern Utah series on May 7-8, Lori Pankratz moved into eighth place in career strikeouts (288) at Western Illinois. The senior needs 30 more strikeouts to pass Melanie Dobson (1999-2002) and move into seventh place.
Academic All-Distrtict V First Team Honorees
Four members of the Western Illinois softball team were named to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine All-District V First Team for their performances on the field and in the classroom on Thursday, May 6.
Colleen Biebel, Julie DePolo, Lauren Furgala and Lori Pankratz all earn the accolades for the first time in their careers. With the first-team honors, all four individuals are now eligible to be selected as Academic All-Americans.
Summit League Success
Since Western Illinois head coach Holly Van Vlymen returned to her alma mater in 2006, the Leathernecks have won three regular-season titles as well as advancing to the NCAA Tournament in 2008. The two-time Summit League Coach of the Year has an conference record of 72-25 with a .742 winning percentage. In the last two season, the Leathernecks have posted a 40-4 record in Summit League action, a .910 winning percentage.
Regular-season champs, again
With the series sweep of Oakland on April 30 - May 1 in Rochester, Mich., the Leathernecks won their second consecutive Summit League regular-season title. The title marks the third title for Western Illinois head coach Holly Van Vlymen in only her fifth year at the helm of the program.
In the NCAA charts
Western has a .295 team batting average, the 48th best team batting average in the nation. Beth Golitko paces the Leatherneck offense with a team-best .380 batting average.
League leaders
The Leathernecks have a conference-best .295 batting average in addition to ranking second in team-pitching with a 2.26 staff ERA and second in team fielding percentage (.962). In league games only, Western boasts a conference best 1.22 ERA.
Balanced attack at the plate
Western has five players batting over .300 this season in Beth Golitko, Julie DePolo, Colleen Biebel, Jamie Goss and Lauren Furgala. The Leathernecks are batting .320 as a team during conference action, led by Jamie Goss who is batting .391 during those games.
Pitching staff leads the way
Western's pitching staff has been solid all season, posting a 2.17 staff ERA. During conference action, the Leathernecks have posted a league-best 1.22 ERA. Lori Pankratz leads the conference with a 0.88 ERA in league action followed by senior teammate Kamren Ferguson who has a 1.42 ERA.
