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Kelsey Marlow

Softball WIU Athletic Communications

Softball Begins 2018 Home Slate Versus Fort Wayne

After 32 away games, the Leathernecks return home

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SERIES NOTES

MACOMB, Ill.- After 32 games away from Macomb, Leatherneck softball opens its 2018 home slate with a Summit League series against Fort Wayne on April 7 at noon. The game will be the first of a double-header that will be played 20 minutes after the conclusion of the first contest. The series will finish on April 8 at 11 a.m.
 
SPECIAL DAY FOR SOMEONE SPECIAL: Marion Blackinton will be throwing out the first pitch on Saturday to celebrate her 90th birthday. She has been an integral part of Leatherneck Athletics and donated the scoreboard to Mary Ellen McKee stadium. The first 100 fans will receive cupcakes in honor of Ms. Blackinton's birthday.
 
LAST TIME OUT: WIU had an very impressive showing in Vermillion, South Dakota. The Leathernecks swept the Coyotes for their first ever sweep over South Dakota in program history. This was Western Illinois' first league series, and at 3-0, the Leathernecks sit atop The Summit League.
 
DEFENSE WINS: The Leathernecks have been incredibly impressive in the field. The Purple and Gold rank first in The Summit League in fielding percentage (.975) and 20th in the nation among 296 Division I softball programs. The Leathernecks have only committed three errors in their last nine games.
 
MARLOW HONORED BY LEAGUE: Western Illinois softball senior infielder Kelsey Marlow was named Summit League Player of the Week (April 2) for her efforts over the last three games. Through 14 at-bats, she held a .643 batting average and on-base percentage, along with a .929 slugging percentage. She totaled nine hits, eight RBIs, four runs, a pair of doubles and a triple. In the infield, she had one putout and five assists for a 1.000 fielding percentage. In the March 31 win over South Dakota, Marlow also set a program record in hits for a single game by going 5-for-6 from the plate.
 
IMPRESSIVE IRA: Emily Ira continues her dominance in The Summit League. She leads The Summit League in strikeout-to-walk ratio, putting down 5.72 batters for every batter she puts on first. This figure ranks 24th in the entire nation. Ira has sat down 103 batters this season, which puts her in second among league pitchers and 73rd around in the country.
 
HOLLINGS ON FIRE: Sydney Hollings made her season debut at the plate against South Dakota. The junior began the series going 5-for-5 with a single, two double and a home run. She ended the weekend going 6-for-9, with two singles, two doubles, a triple and a home run.
 
DU-DU-DU-DUWA: Hailey Duwa has anchored the Leatherneck offense this season. She leads the team in hits (33), doubles (2), slugging percentage (.505), RBIs (19) and is tied for the lead in home runs (2). She has also made an impact in the field, as she has started the last seven games at first base.
 
MARLOW COMIN' ALIVE: Kelsey Marlow's bat came alive against South Dakota, earning her the league 'Player of the Week'. She recorded nine hits three games; before this past weekend, she totaled nine hits in her last 21 games.
 
JAS AND HAL: Jasmine Lara and Halle Hollatz are the only two players that have seen action in all 32 games this season. Additionally, both players have made starts in each game. Rachel Beatty and Payton Abbott have appeared and started in 31 out of 32 contests. Hailey Duwa ranks third in appearances, seeing action in 30 games.
 
WE'VE GOT THE POWER: The Leathernecks bats have been heating up in the last three games. The Purple and Gold have recorded 13 extra-base hits in the last three outings. Before this past weekend, the Leathernecks recorded 13 extra-base hits in the previous 12 games combined.
 
RBIs FOR EVERYONE: Against South Dakota on March 31, the Leathernecks recorded 19 RBIs, the most ever in program history.
 
HOLLATZ IS HOT: Halle Hollatz is currently on a five-game hitting streak. This is the longest hitting streak by any player on the Leathernecks this season. She has reached base in seven-straight contests. She is also tied for third on the squad with seven multi-hot performances. Duwa leads the team with 10.
 
SCOUTING THE MASTODONS: Fort Wayne comes into the contest with a 14-20 record. This weekend will be the Mastodons' first Summit League series of the season. The 'Dons are led at the plate by Morganne Denny, who leads Fort Wayne in hits (31), home runs (3), slugging percentage (.466), and is tied for the lead with doubles (6). In the circle, the Don's claim The Summit League's reigning 'Pitcher of the Week' Bailey Benefiel, who boasts a 2.85 ERA and 11 complete games.
 
ON DECK: The Leathernecks will be heading to west to Iowa twice, for some Power Five competition this week. The Purple and Gold will be in Ames, Iowa for a double-header against Iowa State on April 14 beginning at 1 p.m. On April 17, WIU heads to Iowa City, Iowa for a 7 p.m. tilt against the Hawkeyes.
 
Bunts
• This is Western Illinois' first home contest of the year
• Western Illinois is coming off of its first ever series sweep of South Dakota. The Leathernecks won 5-3, 7-4 and 20-12
• 20 runs in the third of the series against South Dakota is tied for first all-time in program history
• Kelsey Marlow recorded five hits in the third game, the most ever hits in a game by a single player
• The Purple and Gold recorded 25 hits in the third game against South Dakota, the second-most in program history (first - 27 vs. Drake (04/25/1992))
• The series sweep against South Dakota was the first sweep of a conference opponent since against Omaha (April 1-2, 2017)
•The Leathernecks have struggled in close games so far this season, going 1-11 in one-run games
• WIU has not been able to make late comebacks, as the Leathernecks are just 1-25 when trailing after the fifth inning
• Kelsey Marlow is the Western Illinois SAAC president.
• Head Coach Beth Golitko is in her first season after being promoted from an assistant role at WIU
• The Leathernecks have not won a game in which they have scored 0-2 runs.
 
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Players Mentioned

Payton Abbott

#34 Payton Abbott

P/IF
5' 9"
Junior
R/R
Rachel Beatty

#14 Rachel Beatty

OF
5' 5"
Senior
L/L
Hailey Duwa

#5 Hailey Duwa

IF
5' 10"
Junior
L/R
Halle Hollatz

#7 Halle Hollatz

IF
5' 5"
Sophomore
R/R
Sydney Hollings

#00 Sydney Hollings

C/IF
5' 4"
Sophomore
R/R
Emily Ira

#17 Emily Ira

P/OF
5' 7"
Junior
L/L
Jasmine Lara

#25 Jasmine Lara

OF
5' 3"
Sophomore
L/L
Kelsey Marlow

#10 Kelsey Marlow

IF
5' 8"
Senior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Payton Abbott

#34 Payton Abbott

5' 9"
Junior
R/R
P/IF
Rachel Beatty

#14 Rachel Beatty

5' 5"
Senior
L/L
OF
Hailey Duwa

#5 Hailey Duwa

5' 10"
Junior
L/R
IF
Halle Hollatz

#7 Halle Hollatz

5' 5"
Sophomore
R/R
IF
Sydney Hollings

#00 Sydney Hollings

5' 4"
Sophomore
R/R
C/IF
Emily Ira

#17 Emily Ira

5' 7"
Junior
L/L
P/OF
Jasmine Lara

#25 Jasmine Lara

5' 3"
Sophomore
L/L
OF
Kelsey Marlow

#10 Kelsey Marlow

5' 8"
Senior
R/R
IF