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Softball Opens Home and Summit League Slate

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

The Leathernecks play host to South Dakota in a three-game series March 23-24 at Mary Ellen McKee Stadium in Macomb

MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois softball team welcomes South Dakota to Mary Ellen McKee Stadium for its season and Summit League home opener beginning with a doubleheader at 12 p.m. on Saturday (March 23). The three-game series wraps up at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 24.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Western Illinois softball team (6-12) held Bethune-Cookman (9-21) to a pair of runs in both games but came up on the wrong side of a doubleheader sweep on Wednesday (March 13). The Leathernecks were shut out 2-0 in the first game and fell late, 2-1 in the finale. 
 
The Leathernecks managed three hits in the game one loss after Emily Ira (3-4) surrendered one earned run on six hits with five strikeouts over six innings of work.  
 
There was another pitcher's duel in game two, but this time Western struck first by using small-ball tactics. Alyssa Ealy led off the top of the sixth with a bunt single and promptly stole second base. She advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jasmine Lara and scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Payton Abbott to break the stalemate.
 
The Wildcats answered quickly in the bottom half of the sixth on a two-run double by Paysinger to the gap in left-center to move in front, 2-1.

BEEN CAUGHT STEALING: Meghan Henson has thrown out six runners trying to steal, which ranks fifth in The Summit League. 
 
PRESEASON HONORS: Emily Ira and Hailey Duwa were both honored as Summit League 'Players to Watch' at the beginning of the 2019 season. 
 
2019 Summit League Preseason Poll
1. North Dakota State (34 points)
2. South Dakota State (33 points)
3. Western Illinois (25 points)
4. South Dakota (19 points)
5. Omaha (14 points)
6. North Dakota (11 points)
7. Purdue Fort Wayne (9 points)
 
IMPRESSIVE IRA: Emily Ira has been effective this year, as batters have only hit .235 against her this season.  Ira struck out a season-high 13 batters in an 8-0 shutout win over Bowling Green on Saturday, March 9. Her career-high is 19 strikeouts. Ira is just the third Leatherneck to ever register 500 strikeouts (Holly Van Vlymen - 880, Kameren Ferguson - 763) as she has recorded 568 career strikeouts and counting. Ira currently ranks sixth in WIU program history with 525.0 innings pitched and is just 11 innings of work away from tying Veronica Wilson (1990-93) for fifth all-time. 

SCOUTING THE COYOTES: South Dakota is 17-15 through non-league play so far in a schedule that includes a 6-4 win over No. 23 Michigan at the Arizona State Tournament on March 9. The Coyotes already have as many wins as they did last year (17-38). 
 
Jamie Holscher has the third-best batting average in The Summit League so far (.379) while three other Coyotes including Dustie Durham, Lauren Eamiguel and Camille Fowler all have averages at the plate above .300. Holscher paces her squad with seven home runs and Lauren Wobken is right behind her with six long balls. Alexis Devers and Durham are the main two hurlers for South Dakota but Sarah Lisko has made 18 appearances including 15 in a relief role. 
 
Former Arizona State assistant coach, Robert Wagner enters his third season as the Coyotes head coach and owns a 56-85 record at USD. 
 
LAST YEAR AGAINST SOUTH DAKOTA: WIU swept the Coyotes for the first time in program history last season. The Leathernecks went into Vermillion promptly taking both games of the series-opening doubleheader by final scores of 5-3 and 7-4. The series finale was a record-breaking shootout with Western coming away victorious, 20-12. 19 RBIs is the Western Illinois program record.  The Purple and Gold has won five of its last six meeting against South Dakota but trails the all-time series to USD, 14-7.
 
PROMOTIONS: Saturday, March 23- Camper reunion where softball campers from earlier in the year are invited come out and support the Leathernecks. Camp shirts will be available for pick up at the game
Autograph day as fans are encouraged to stick around after the doubleheader as the team will be available following the game to sign autographs. 
 
Sunday, March 24- It's Sunday Runday with children 12 and under invited down to the infield to run the bases after the game. 
 
ON DECK: The Leathernecks make a trip to Big Ten foe Iowa on Wednesday (March 27). Western will face the Hawkeyes under the lights at 7 p.m. 
 
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