What | 2021 Michelle Short Memorial Collegiate Classic

Where | Farris Field (Conway, Ark.)

When | Feb. 25-27

Twitter | @WIUSoftball
 

WIU Tournament Schedule

Thursday, Feb. 25 | vs. Arkansas Pine-Bluff at 4:15 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 25 | vs. Missouri State at 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 26 | vs. Missouri State at 2:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 26 | vs. Arkansas Pine-Bluff at 4:45 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 27 | vs. Central Arkansas at 12:15 p.m.
 

A Strong Start

Western Illinois softball is currently enjoying a five-game winning streak after dropping its first season contest. The Leathernecks went 3-1 during the 2021 DePaul Dome Tournament and swept Bradley last Friday in a doubleheader. Sitting at 5-1, WIU is off to its best start since the 2014 season. 

The team now preps for travel to Conway, Ark., participating in Central Arkansas' hosted 'Michelle Short Memorial Collegiate Classic.' Five games are set for Western in the three-day outing. Live stats for each contest will be available.
 

League Props

Yesterday (Feb. 22), a pair of Leathernecks swept the Summit League's weekly athlete honors. Piper Foote was named the league's Softball Player of the Week, while Abby Carlin earned Pitcher of the Week.

Both players performed exceptionally against Bradley. It was Foote's first career Summit League weekly honor and Carlin's second. 

Foote picked up a combined four hits, three runs scored, and three RBIs. She went 4-6 overall at the plate. Carlin, meanwhile, received the win on the mound in game one. She retired 11 batters in 7.0 innings while only allowing one earned run. In game two, the Huxley, Iowa native pitched a scoreless sixth inning to help three WIU pitchers combine for a shutout.
 

Previously…

Visiting Bradley, WIU won game one of the doubleheader, 6-1. It was in the top of the third when the Leathernecks seized momentum offensively. First, Alyssa Ealy singled, followed by an Ami Ill walk and Foote single. Seeing the bases loaded, Savannah Rodriguez brought home all three with a 3 RBI double to center field. In the fourth frame, WIU totaled five hits and three runs.

Down 6-0, Bradley rattled a lead-off homer in the bottom of the fourth. However, led by Carlin's effective pitching, Western's defense would not allow any further opportunities en route to the victory. Nine different Leathernecks notched at least one hit, as WIU outhit Bradley 10-4. Rodriguez finished with three RBIs, and Maddy Anderson added two more.

Game two went in Western's favor from the first pitch. Following a lead-off walk, Ealy stole her second base of the day. She then advanced to third off Ill's sacrifice bunt, and an RBI single by Foote rounded out the run. Immediately after, Rodriguez's RBI double upped WIU's lead to 2-0 in the opening inning. Not long into the second, Ashley Minyard singled and stole second before reaching third on a ground out. Jorja Hudson then stepped up to the plate, bringing in her veteran teammate by singling to right-center field. 

Foote lined Western's first and only dinger of the day in the fifth period - a 2 RBI home run with Torince Muczynksi on second as a pinch-runner. Similarly to game one, Western's defense maintained control from start to finish, as the Leathernecks ended their trip with a sweep. Rodriguez (3-0) achieved her second shutout of the year after striking out eight Braves in 5.0 innings of work. Sydney Hollings chipped in two hits, and Ealy stole two bases. Hudson finished with a game-high ten putouts. The Leathernecks once again outhit the Braves 10-4.
 

Staying on the Boards

WIU's overall record of 5-1 is currently the best of all Summit League members. The group also sits second in team ERA (2.33) and third in batting average (.247). Rodriguez's exceptional play has helped her maintain the top mark in leading Summit pitchers, with a 0.44 ERA and 23 strikeouts. Anderson isn't far behind at the fifth spot. Abrianna Gracia has jumped from sixth to third on the fielding list for individuals (27 putouts in 33 chances), and Hudson places fifth. Foote and Rodriguez are second in runs scored (6) and RBIs (7), respectively.
 

The Scout

Arkansas Pine-Bluff begins its season on Friday against the Leathernecks… the Lady Lions went 1-15 a year ago and are pretty underclassmen-heavy, with 17 total… senior outfielder Shanice Atkins led the team in plenty of categories last season: batting average (.405), runs (10), hits (17), RBIs (7), slugging percentage (.594), and total bases (23)… fellow senior Anne Gerwitz had 15 hits and a .579 slugging percentage… Shakeidra Hubbard returns at pitcher after making 11 starts in 13 appearances as a sophomore.

Missouri State has started at a 3-1 overall clip after playing in the 2021 Alex Wilcox Memorial Tournament… The team most recently lost 5-0 to Mississippi State, which was ranked #22 by USA Today at the time… Daphne Plummer has produced strongly in the Bears' batting lineup… Madison Hunsaker is 2-0 in the circle, having put away 17 opponents in 11.2 total innings pitched.

Sitting at 3-5, Central Arkansas takes on #11 LSU in a doubleheader before hosting this week's tournament… Tylar Vernon and Jenna Wildeman have been two of the most effective batters… Cylla Hill's seven RBIs more than doubles any of her fellow teammates… Hill also owns the Bears' two homers… Kayla Beaver has started three of four pitching appearances and holds a 2.82 ERA.