Leathernecks Continue Road Slate At Auburn

Weekend features a five-game slate against UNCW, WCU and Auburn

MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois softball team will compete in Auburn, Alabama over the weekend, beginning on Friday (March 2) at 10 a.m. against UNCW. The Purple and Gold will then see a familiar foe in Western Carolina after the conclusion of the first game on Friday with first pitch slated for 12:30 p.m. The weekend will feature two Saturday (March 3) games against UNCW (12:30 p.m.) and Auburn (5:30 p.m.) The Leathernecks will finish the Wilson/DeMarini Classic with a 11:00 a.m. Sunday (March 4) tilt versus Auburn.

LAST TIME OUT: The Leathernecks finished the Frost Classic in Chattanooga compiling a 2-3 record, with wins over Alabama State and Evansville. The pair of wins ended an eight-game skid. In Chattanooga, Jasmine Lara led the Leathernecks at the plate by going 8-for-16 with three runs, a double and an RBI. Lara drew two walks over the weekend, totaling a .556 in-base percentage. Hailey Duwa and Payton Abbott led the team with three RBIs apiece, while Duwa hit three doubles. Emily Ira dominated competition on the mound, pitching 20.2 frames and boasting a 1.02 ERA.

PITCHER OF THE WEEK: Ira etched her name in the Western Illinois record book on Feb. 24 against Alabama State after registering 15 strikeouts, which ties her for third all-time in school history for strikeouts in a single game. The Iowa City, Iowa native pitched three complete games over the weekend, compiling 26 strikeouts in 20.2 innings. Going into the sixth inning on Sunday, Ira's no-hitter was broken up with a SEMO single. Over the weekend, she only walked one batter and gave up three earned runs. Dominant in the circle the entire weekend, opponents only garnered 12 hits and registered a .171 average against Ira.

NEARING THE SUMMIT: Lara and Ira are seeing early success this season and rank among the best in The Summit League. Lara's .368 batting average ranks fourth among Summit League players, while Ira's 40 strikeouts ranks second among pitchers. Ira's 3.31 ERA is fifth in the league.

WE MEET AGAIN: Western Illinois will face Western Carolina for a second time this season after playing in the Runnin' Bulldgos Tournament in Boiling Springs, N.C. on Feb. 17. In the matchup, the Catamounts eked out a 1-0 decision.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS: UNCW comes in to the Wilson/DeMarini Classic with a 4-6 record. Most recently, the Seahawks dropped a 4-2 tilt against NC State. Auburn enters the weekend ranked No. 12 by the USA Today/NFCA poll, and the Tigers are boasting a 17-2 record. They have fell in their last two of their last four contests, however. Western Carolina has lost three of four and begins the Classic with a 3-7 record.

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Players Mentioned

#34 Payton Abbott: P/IF; 5' 9"; Junior; R/R

#5 Hailey Duwa: IF; 5' 10"; Junior; L/R

#17 Emily Ira: P/OF; 5' 7"; Junior; L/L

#25 Jasmine Lara: OF; 5' 3"; Sophomore; L/L

Players Mentioned

#34 Payton Abbott
: 5' 9"; Junior; R/R
: P/IF

#5 Hailey Duwa
: 5' 10"; Junior; L/R
: IF

#17 Emily Ira
: 5' 7"; Junior; L/L
: P/OF

#25 Jasmine Lara
: 5' 3"; Sophomore; L/L
: OF