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Sarah Twidwell

Softball Set for Mid-Week Showdown Under the Lights at Iowa

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

The Leathernecks look for a repeat showing after defeating the Hawkeyes last season

MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois softball team travels to Iowa City for a primetime matchup with the Hawkeyes from the Big Ten on Wednesday, March 27 at 7 p.m.
 
LAST TIME OUT: Western Illinois (7-14, 1-2) played a total of 20 innings in a pair of extra-inning heartbreaking losses to South Dakota (19-16, 2-1) on Saturday afternoon (March 23). The Leathernecks won the series finale the next day, 6-3 behind two RBI from Sydney Hollings and three USD errors.
 
PRESEASON HONORS: Emily Ira and Hailey Duwa were both honored as Summit League 'Players to Watch' at the beginning of the 2019 season. 
 
IMPRESSIVE IRA: The Iowa City, Iowa native has been effective this year, as batters have hit .253 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 581 career strikeouts and counting. Ira currently ranks fifth in WIU program history with 543.2 innings pitched after passing Veronica Wilson (1990-93).  
 
FAMILIAR FACE: WIU softball battled former player and assistant coach, Lu Harris-Champer at the UGA Classic (March 9-11). Harris-Champer played three seasons at Western Illinois before becoming an assistant coach for the Westerwinds from 1992-1996. She has been the head coach of Georgia Bulldogs for 19 seasons and turned UGA into a national powerhouse. 
 
BEEN CAUGHT STEALING: Meghan Henson has thrown out seven runners trying to steal, which ranks fifth in The Summit League. 
 
CONSISTENT SPOTS IN THE ORDER: Although head coach Beth Golitko has tinkered with her batting order throughout the season, Jasmine Lara has hit leadoff in all 21 games. Hailey Duwa has batted out of the cleanup spot in all 21 contests as well. 

SCOUTING THE HAWKEYES: Iowa is 15-11 overall and off to a 1-2 start in Big Ten play after dropping the series to Purdue last weekend. Donirae Mayhew paces the Hawkeyes with a .351 batting average, three home runs and 16 RBI. Mallory Kilian is also a threat at the plate holding a .321 average, one long ball and 13 RBI. Allison Doocy is 13-5 in the circle over 18 starts with a low 1.47 ERA and 113 strikeouts. Erin Riding (10 appearances, four starts) is another solid pitching option for Iowa.
 
Former UCF head coach and Iowa native, Renee Gillispie enters her first season leading the Hawkeyes. She owns a 640-414-1 overall mark as a head coach. Iowa leads the all-time series against Western Illinois, 29-21.
 
LAST YEAR AGAINST IOWA: It only took three hits for the Leathernecks to pick up its seventh-straight win at the time on April 17, 2018, as WIU beat Iowa 2-1 in eight innings. Emily Ira pitched all eight innings for Western Illinois, yielding three hits while striking out six.

The victory was Western Illinois' first win over a Power Five school since beating Iowa April 2, 2015. It was a pitcher's duel in Iowa City, as neither starter gave up a hit or a run through six innings.

Hailey Duwa ended Iowa's no-hitter with a home run in the seventh inning over the right-field wall.

Ira gave up her first hit in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs and two strikes. The Hawkeyes followed the double with a single and tied up the game at one run apiece. This was the second time this season that Ira's no-hit attempt failed with one strike to go.

To begin the game, the Leathernecks were patient at the plate, forcing Iowa's Allison Doocy to throw 42 pitches through the first two innings. 

Efficient in the circle all night, starter Ira recorded a four-pitch inning against the Hawkeyes in the third frame. The Leatherneck ace struck out three Hawkeyes in the first four innings. Both pitchers continued to deal strikes through six innings as Doocy recorded eight strikeouts while Ira fanned four of Hawkeyes.

Western Illinois loaded the bases in the eighth inning after Alyssa Ealy and Rachel Beatty each reached on a bunt while a pitch hit Ashley Minyard. With one out, Payton Abbott grounded to the shortstop to score Ealy to break the tie.

The Hawkeyes put a runner on in the eighth inning, but Iowa left her stranded as Western picked up the win.
 
ON DECK: The Leathernecks return to Summit League play at home against North Dakota State March 30-31.
 
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