Softball Set to Open Season at Total Control Sports Invitational

Thursday, February 07, 2019 | By: WIU Athletic Communications

Western Illinois will play five games inside the Rosemont Dome

MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois softball team opens its season on Friday (Feb. 8) at the Total Control Sports Invitational in Rosemont. The Leathernecks begin play on Friday morning at 9 a.m. against IUPUI and at 2 p.m. versus the Butler. The Purple and Gold will conclude weekend play on Saturday (Feb. 9) at 9 a.m. against Green Bay before a quick turnaround at 11:30 a.m. versus IUPUI. Western's final game of the tournament is Sunday morning (Feb. 10) at 9 a.m. against UMKC.

AT THE HELM AGAIN: Beth Golitko took over as head coach for the Leathernecks in 2018. She has spent 10 years at Western Illinois, four as a player and five as a graduate assistant and assistant coach.

COACH GOLITKO'S THOUGHTS: "We are so excited for opening weekend," Golitko said. "After all of the practices, we are ready for games to finally start. The team has been working hard consistently and are always striving to get better each day. I can't wait to put everything together and take the field. We have great upperclassmen leadership with a strong underclassmen group, which have been meshing well. We'll take it one pitch and one play at a time to trust what we've been working on all preseason."

THE BATS ARE BACK: The Leathernecks return their best offensive player from last season and a Summit League Preseason Player to Watch Hailey Duwa. She finished the 2018 schedule with team-highs in batting average (.359), hits (47) home runs (6) and RBI (32). The efficient Jasmine Lara returns for her junior season after batting .333 as a sophomore and logging a .429 on-base percentage. Halle Hollatz is the only returning player who started every game in 2018 as she made the All-Summit League Second Team with four homers and 23 RBI. Sydney Hollings and Aly Compton will both be back in the lineup this season after missing much of last year due to injury.

ONE LAST GO AT IT: 2017 Summit League 'Pitcher of the Year' Emily Ira is back seeking the best year of her already storied career at Western Illinois. The Iowa City, Iowa native struck out 170 batters over 152.1 innings with a 3.49 ERA as a junior in 2018.

ROAD WARRIORS: The Purple and Gold will have to prove themselves on the road again this season, as the squad's first 22 games are on the road. The Leathernecks do not play in Macomb until March 23 against South Dakota.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS: The Leathernecks play former Summit League foe IUPUI twice and own a 51-17 all-time advantage over the Jaguars. IUPUI was picked to finish sixth in the Horizon League after a 16-33 overall record and 10-13 league mark last year.

Butler finished 20-28 and was 7-11 in Big East play last season. The Green Bay Phoenix are also Horizon League members coming off an 11-35 campaign and 8-14 league record. The last opponent of the tournament is UMKC, the Kangaroos were 15-41 a year ago and 2-13 in Western Athletic Conference play.

LOOKING AHEAD: WIU travels to Bowling Green, Ky., for a three-game series at Western Kentucky Feb. 16-17.

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