Who | Western Illinois (11-15, 2-2) vs. South Dakota State (19-4, 4-0)

Where | Macomb Ill. (Mary Ellen McKee Stadium)

When | Apr. 2 (12 p.m. & 2 p.m.) and Apr. 3 (11 a.m. & 1 p.m.)

Twitter | @WIUSoftball

Quick Hits

• Week two of Summit League play unfolds later this week for Western Illinois softball, running Friday through Saturday

• The Leathernecks opened its league schedule with a two-day, four-game series against North Dakota State last weekend (March 27-28), ending with a 2-2 split

• Alisa Goler picked up her first home win in McKee Stadium during the opener of the aforementioned series

• Following the league's opening week, WIU remains in the top three Summit standings for team batting average (.271). The group's 17 home runs are tied for second-best

• In the past week, Savannah Rodriguez took a noticeable jump in individual standings, now placing fifth in personal batting average (.355)

Previously…

WIU split during day one of the NDSU series. A 6-2 win went to the Leathernecks in the opening contest. On her first at-bat, Sydney Hollings homered to left-center for three runs. After Rodriguez singled for an additional run in the third's bottom, Hollings went yard yet again. Increasing its lead to 6-0, WIU found itself in a comfortable spot. Both of NDSU's runs happened in the fifth. Hollings led the way with two hits, two runs, and five RBI. Alyssa Ealy also chipped in two hits. Bella Alvarez gathered four putouts in the infield.

NDSU took a 16-0 decision in Saturday's latter portion. Abrianna Gracia, Hollings, and Rodriguez notched a hit each. Kellie Marcheschi contributed four putouts, while Jorja Hudson and Maddy Anderson both added three.

Sunday was an afternoon full of runs. The first outing also ended in the Bison's favor, 15-9. Gracia and Rodriguez had two hits apiece, while Foote chipped in two RBI. Gabriela Drager gathered eight putouts.

Game two of Sunday could best be summed up in two words - home runs. Western led NDSU 4-2 at the end of the first frame and never trailed again. Alvarez achieved her first collegiate homer in jaw-dropping fashion: a grand slam to center field. The game ended on back-to-back solo bombs from Marcheschi and Rodriguez in the sixth. Abby Carlin pitched the entire way in her fifth win of the season, shutting down the visiting crew with a pair of runs and six strikeouts.

Stand Out Then, Syd!

On Monday (March 28), Hollings was named Summit League Player of the Week, her first career nod. In six games, March 24-28, she batted .500 (6-for-12) at the plate with a 1.167 slugging percentage in six games. Additionally, the fifth-year infielder drove in a total of seven RBI, scored five runs, and delivered six hits. Hollings went 5-for-7 against NDSU with two home runs, two doubles, four walks and seven RBI.

A Historical Glance

Western has a 25-12 all-time advantage in this series that has been ongoing since April 2008. The two programs last went at it in three games from April 7-8, 2019. WIU won that series with 7-2 and 5-3 victories.

The Scout

South Dakota State is at a strong midseason start at 19-4 overall and a 4-0 clip in the league after sweeping Kansas City last weekend… Peyton Daugherty sits at the top spot for hits (32) and runs scored (24)… Emma Osmundson holds a .481 batting average and .741 slugging percentage… Seven Jackrabbits have produced double-digit figures in RBI… Cylie Halvorson is the team leader in that RBI category (23)… Osmundson, Halvorson, and Allison Yoder all have totaled 20+ hits… SDSU is currently up to five games with 10 or more runs… In three of the wins versus Kansas City, the Jackrabbits posted two games of 12 hits and 11 in another showing.

Weekends Well-Spent

This year, due to reductions in non-conference play for most programs, The Summit League has expanded its league schedule to four-game series, as opponents will face off in two doubleheaders each weekend. The previous league format was a three-game weekend series - one doubleheader and one single game. WIU will hold three home series and a single-game matchup versus Eastern Illinois on Apr. 22.