Leathernecks Begin Spring Break In Wichita, Kansas

The Leatherneck will play Missouri State and Wichita State twice

Game 1 - Missouri State Game 2 - Wichita State Game 3 - Missouri State Game 4 - Wichita State
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MACOMB, Ill.- The Western Illinois softball team leads off its spring break with a 5-game slate in Wichita, Kansas for the Wichita State University Tournament. The Leathernecks begin with Missouri State at noon on Saturday (March 10) followed by a 5 p.m. tilt against host Wichita State. The 2-day frenzy ends on Sunday (March 11) at 11 a.m. against Missouri State and at 1:30 p.m. versus Wichita State.

LAST TIME OUT: The Purple and Gold are coming off of a weekend in Auburn, Alabama that saw the Leathernecks go 2-3. Western Illinois evened the season series against Western Carolina at one game a piece after an 8-0 win during the first day of tournament play. The second Leatherneck victory came against UNCW, a game that the Leathernecks posted six runs and Megan Lotarski earned her second win of the season. WIU fell the UNCW earlier in the weekend, 3-2, and fell to No. 12 Auburn twice, 6-2 and 7-0.

HERE'S MY NUMBER, SO CALL ME BEATTY: Her number is .571-.571-.929/5. The senior is coming off a tremendous weekend at the plate in Auburn, batting at a .571 clip, claiming a .571 on-base percentage, amassing a .929 slugging percentage and scored five runs. Overall, Beatty ranks fourth on the team in batting average (.295), fifth in hits (13) and second in slugging percentage (.432).

FAB 5: Jasmine Lara, Payton Abbott, Halle Hollatz, Brooke Stulga and Kelsey Marlow have started in all 19 games to start the season.

LEADING THE BUNCH: Jasmine Lara leads the team in many a category. The sophomore leads the team in batting average (.370), runs (11), walks (10) and on-base percentage (.469). This year has been no sophomore slump for the Bettendorf, Iowa native. In her freshman campaign, she finished the year batting .219 with 12 walks and 19 runs.

SCOUTING THE BEARS: Missouri State is 10-8 on the season and has won its last two out of three games. The Bears went 2-4 last weekend in Norman, Oklahoma with a pair of wins over Abilene Christian. Missouri State is led by Erika V. Zimmer, who has recorded 21 hits and is batting at a .375 clip.

SCOUTING THE SHOCKERS: Wichita State comes into the weekend boasting a 10-8 record and a two-game winning streak over Arkansas and Nebraska, who are both receiving votes in the top-25 coaches' poll. Paige Luellen, who is batting .370 on the season and has plated six RBIs, leads the Shockers.

ON DECK: The Leathernecks remain in Kansas for their next outing, as they travel to Lawrence for a five-game weekend beginning on March 15 against host Kansas. The Purple and Gold then play UMKC, University of Northern Colorado, Saint Louis and Murray State to finish the slate.

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Players Mentioned

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

#7 Halle Hollatz: IF; 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R

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

#6 Megan Lotarski: P; 5' 7"; Junior; R/R

#10 Kelsey Marlow: IF; 5' 8"; Senior; R/R

#33 Brooke Stulga: P; 5' 10"; Senior; R/R

Players Mentioned

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

#7 Halle Hollatz
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R
: IF

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

#6 Megan Lotarski
: 5' 7"; Junior; R/R
: P

#10 Kelsey Marlow
: 5' 8"; Senior; R/R
: IF

#33 Brooke Stulga
: 5' 10"; Senior; R/R
: P