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TigerInvite_FP

Softball WIU Athletic Communications

Fighting Leatherneck Softball Readies for Tiger Invitational

Western will take on No. 3 Auburn, St. John's, Indiana State and Boston College at the Tiger Invitational this weekend

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
WHEN AND WHERE:
Tiger Invitational
Friday, Feb. 26 - Sunday, Feb. 28
Auburn, Alabama | Jane B. Moore Field

Tournament Central
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GAME 1
Western Illinois vs. St. John's
Feb. 26, 3 p.m. CT

GAME 2
Western Illinois at Auburn 
Feb. 27, 3 p.m. CT

GAME 3
Western Illinois vs. Indiana State
Feb. 27, 5:30 p.m. CT

GAME 4
Western Illinois vs. Boston College
Feb. 28, 10:30 a.m. CT

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WIU STATS: 
HERE
 
ST. JOHN'S: Stats | Website
AUBURN: Stats | Website
INDIANA STATE: Stats | Website
BOSTON COLLEGE: Stats | Website
 
COVERAGE

RADIO
WEGL 91.1 FM
Online Broadcast

VS. AUBURN
TV: SEC Network +
LIVE STATS
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
PRESEASON INFORMATION

2016 Preseason Quick Facts (.PDF)
2016 Preseason Record Book (.PDF)
2016 Schedule Release
2016 Preseason Video
 
MACOMB, Ill. – The Western Illinois softball team is preparing for a tough road test at the Tiger Invitational this weekend (Feb. 26-28) in Auburn, Alabama. The Leathernecks will take on St. John's, Indiana State, Boston College and tournament hosts No. 3 Auburn over three days. Friday's lone contest against St. John's will begin at 3:00 p.m. CT. Action on Saturday against the Tigers begins at 3 on The SEC Network+, followed by Indiana State at 5:30 p.m. Tournament play will conclude Sunday morning against Boston College at 10:30 a.m.
 
SCOUTING THE RED STORM: St. John's has posted a 3-3 overall record this season… The Red Storm are the reigning Big East Champions and posted a 28-19 (16-2, BE) record in 2015… St. John's returns all but one starting position player from a squad that set program records in batting average (.317), runs (243), RBIs (224) and walks (152) last season... The Red Storm is led by Savannah Warren, who is hitting .625 with five hits and four RBIs… The Big East Pitcher of the Year, Tori Free, returns in the circle for the Storm… She's posted a 1-2 record this season with a 4.97 ERA, 12 strikeouts, and 13 hits.
 
SERIES HISTORY: The series between St. John's and Western is tied 1-1… The squads have not met since March 12, 2005, when the Leathernecks dropped a 9-1 decision.
 
SCOUTING NO. 3 AUBURN: The Tigers enter their second week in a row ranked No. 3 in the nation… Auburn currently ranks in the top-ten in the nation in six different categories: first in the nation in scoring (12.64) and slugging percentage (.704), fifth in batting average (.404), third in doubles per game (2.64) sixth in home runs per game (1.64), and ninth in triples per game (.64)… Tiffany Howard leads Auburn with a .562 batting average and has scored 17 runs… Whitney Jordan has drove in 18 RBIs… In the circle, the Tigers are led by Lexi Davis, who has posted an 0.88 ERA, and Marcy Harper, who has compiled three wins in 2016… Auburn is currently 10-1 this season and is led by third-year head coach Clint Myers.
 
SERIES HISTORY: Western trails the all-time series 0-2… The two teams last faced off on February 15, 2014, when the Leathernecks fell 6-0. Western is 10-40 all-time against ranked opponents.
 
SCOUTING THE SYCAMORES: The Sycamores are 2-2 heading into this weekend's invitational… Brooke Riemenschneider leads the team with a .444 batting average… Abby Klopp has pitched 25 innings and has posted an ERA of 1.12… The Sycamores rank 35th in the nation with an ERA of 1.93… ISU ranks third in the nation with .75 triples per game.
 
SERIES HISTORY: Saturday will mark the 48th all-team meeting between the Sycamores and the Leathernecks, with Western holding a 33-14 advantage… The two teams have not met since March 9, 2008, when WIU fell 2-1.
 
SCOUTING THE EAGLES: Boston College enters the weekend with a 4-6 record… The Eagles are led by Allyson Moore, who has posted a .400 batting average… Chloe Sharabba leads the team with seven runs, while Annie Murphy has knocked in six RBIs… Allyson Frei has compiled three wins from the circle… Jessica Dreswick has garnered a 1.27 ERA.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Leathernecks competed at the Total Control Sports Invitational this past weekend (Feb. 20-21) in Rosemont, Illinois, where they posted a 3-1 record on the weekend… The offense came alive on Saturday, as Western defeated Quinnipiac 6-2 and Green Bay 8-4… On Sunday, the Leathernecks fell to Loyola 2-1, but edged out UIC 1-0… Payton Abbott and Karissa Kouchis led the team with five hits over the weekend, while Kelsey Marlow drove in six RBIs… Western also had six players with seven extra-base hits… Kacyee Hart went a perfect 2-0 from the circle, pitching two complete games while striking out nine batters and allowing only four earned runs. Emily Ira also got her first win of the season over Quinnipiac, tying her career-high eight strikeouts.
 
ABBOTT AND HART HONORED BY LEAGUE: Payton Abbott and Kacyee Hart were named The Summit League's Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, on Monday (Feb. 22) for their performances at the Total Control Sports Invitational… Abbott earns her first career 'Player of the Week' award after batting .500 (5-10) over the weekend with an on-base percentage of .615 and an .800 slugging percentage… The freshman went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in an 8-4 victory over Green Bay… Hart was tabbed 'Pitcher of the Week' for the first time in her career… The senior struck out nine batters in 14.0 innings with a 2.00 ERA. She picked up her first two victories of the season in complete games over Green Bay and UIC, including a shutout over the Flames on Sunday.
 
FRESHMAN POWER: Ira leads The Summit League for the second week in a row in strikeouts,
compiling 29 over five games… Abbott currently ranks second in The Summit League with a batting
average of .417.







 
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Players Mentioned

Kacyee Hart

#7 Kacyee Hart

P
5' 8"
Senior
R/R
Karissa Kouchis

#25 Karissa Kouchis

OF
4' 11"
Senior
L/R
Kelsey Marlow

#10 Kelsey Marlow

IF
5' 8"
Sophomore
R/R
Payton Abbott

#34 Payton Abbott

P/IF
5' 9"
Freshman
R/R
Emily Ira

#17 Emily Ira

P/OF
5' 7"
Freshman
L/L

Players Mentioned

Kacyee Hart

#7 Kacyee Hart

5' 8"
Senior
R/R
P
Karissa Kouchis

#25 Karissa Kouchis

4' 11"
Senior
L/R
OF
Kelsey Marlow

#10 Kelsey Marlow

5' 8"
Sophomore
R/R
IF
Payton Abbott

#34 Payton Abbott

5' 9"
Freshman
R/R
P/IF
Emily Ira

#17 Emily Ira

5' 7"
Freshman
L/L
P/OF