What | Middle Tennessee State Tournament

Where | Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Blue Raider Softball Field)

When | March 20-21

Twitter | @WIUSoftball

WIU Tournament Schedule

Saturday, March 20 | vs. Mercer at 11 a.m.

Saturday, March 20 | vs. Middle Tennessee State at 1:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 21 | vs. Mercer at 10 a.m.

Sunday, March 21 | vs. Middle Tennessee State at 12:30 p.m.

Quick Hits

• The Leathernecks head out of state once again in the incoming days for a weekend tilt at Middle Tennessee State's hosted 2021 tournament. Live stats will be available for each contest.

• This will serve as the final weekend before Summit League play unfolds

• During her most recent three-day showing at the Billiken Spring Tournament, Savannah Rodriguez homered twice for her first pair of dingers this year. She ties with Sydney Hollings in that category for a team-high

• During the same Billiken event, underclassmen Gabriela Drager and Daytona Dooley made their first season starts in the infield and outfield, respectively

Previously…

On day one of the Billiken tournament, WIU was narrowly edged out in its first two games. Playing against the host team, Saint Louis, Western saw the Billikens smack a two-out homer in the bottom of the fourth, taking the game's first and only run. Abby Carlin put away eight hitters in 6.0 innings. WIU outhit the Billikens 4-3, with four different Leathernecks contributing one apiece.

During game two, down 6-2 in the seventh versus SLU, WIU exploded in for a flurry of five hits and three runs. Jorja Hudson and Ashley Minyard each singled one last time before a line out ended the team's impressive run. SLU again wrapped up the contest with a walk-off. Hudson impressed with a perfect batting performance: going 4-4 with an RBI. Alyssa Ealy and Rodriguez both added two hits, as the former also provided three RBI. Making her first collegiate start as a first baseman, Drager finished with eight putouts.

Bouncing back from a 5-4 morning loss against Loyola-Chicago on Saturday, WIU won its first game of the tournament in an SLU rematch that evening: 5-4. Maddy Anderson moved to 3-1 in her season pitching record after contributing solidly in a relief role. Hollings and Rodriguez notched two hits apiece, while Drager again had eight putouts.

On Sunday, for the third time this spring, Western forced extra innings in an early afternoon closer versus Loyola-Chicago. A double pulled in an additional run for the Ramblers in the bottom of the seventh and tied the margin, 6-6. Two of their runners were placed in scoring position, but Carlin's clutch pitching caused the contest to go into the eighth. The Loyola offense took over to first make a sacrifice bunt and then singled for the game-winning play. Kellie Marcheschi and Kyra Kroll finished with two hits and runs scored, respectively. Carlin retired eight Loyola hitters in 7.1 innings pitched.

Poised Pitching

Entering the season's sixth week, Rodriguez and Anderson are back at the top ranks of league pitchers, listing first and second, respectively. Rodriguez (3-2) possesses only a 1.60 ERA and has struck out 39 foes. Anderson (3-1) does not trail far behind with a 1.91 ERA after retiring 21 batters. Carlin continues to pace the Summit in strikeouts (65).

The Scout

Middle Tennessee State is 9-10 overall on the year… Kelci Hill and Summer Burgess are tied for team leaders in hits (18), as the latter has started all 19 games… Hill steadies the batting lineup with a .321 average… Lexi Cushing leads with nine total RBI, and four Blue Raiders have contributed five apiece… pitcher Amber Baldwin is 4-4 in the circle with nine starts and holds a 2.96 ERA… the MTSU offense has put together four games of double-digits in hits.

Mercer stands at .500 this year, with a 10-10 overall clip… Out of a four-pitcher rotation, Ashlyn Donner has made the most starts and appearances (8-12)… Elisa Rosado gives the group a threat on the batting end, having posted 19 hits, 15 runs, and six RBI… Micayla Rood's .352 batting average is a team-best, and she ties with Rosado in hits… Seven players have chipped in five or more RBI… Danielle Castleberry and Allie Jones are both 20-game starters with 18 and 15 hits, respectively… Bree Comer has 123 putouts in 128 chances.