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Mya Knuteson

Softball Heads to Kentucky

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

The Leathernecks will play their next six games in the Bluegrass State.

Upcoming Schedule
  • Evansville: Sunday, March 13, 12:15 p.m. (Racer Classic)
  • Murray State: Sunday, March 13, 4:45 p.m. (Racer Classic)
  • Evansville: Monday (March 14), 2:30 p.m. (Racer Classic)
  • Murray State: Monday, March 14, 4:45 p.m. (Racer Classic)
  • Northern Kentucky: Tuesday, March 15, 3 p.m.
  • Louisville: Wednesday, March 16, 5 p.m.
Where
  • Sunday/Monday: Racer Field – Murray, Ky.
  • Tuesday: Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field - Highland Heights, Ky.
  • Wednesday: Ulmer Stadium - Louisville, Ky.

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Matchup history: 
Western Illinois and Evansville have played eight times in program history; WIU holds a 7-1 all-time record. The teams did meet during the COVID-cancelled 2020 season, with the Aces winning 4-1. Current Leathernecks Maddy Anderson and Piper Foote both played and started the game, with Anderson recording two strikeouts as the starting pitcher while getting on base with a second-inning single as a hitter. Murray State and Western Illinois have matched up five times since the first game in 2017, most recently finishing 9-0 in favor of the Racers on Feb. 13, 2022, during the opening-weekend tournament at the Rosemont Dome.
 
Tuesday's game is the first time in program history that Western Illinois and Northern Kentucky have played. The Norse come into next week's game with an 8-12 record that includes a 1-0 victory over Murray State, who Western Illinois will face twice this weekend. Against Louisville Western is 0-4 historically, though the last time these two teams faced off was in 2001; all four previous matchups were also neutral site games, making Wednesday's game the first time WIU and UL have played in either Macomb or Louisville.
 
Scouting the Leathernecks:  
Kaylee Ketcherside had a strong weekend at the Hoosier Classic, finishing 5-11 with across four games (four starts). In 11 appearances (21 at-bats) this season, she is hitting .381 with three RBIs and a .409 on base percentage. Against Indiana (March 4), Ketcherside finished 2-4 with an RBI single to score Megan Leonard in the seventh inning. Six other Leathernecks recorded a hit in that same game against Indiana, with Leonard, Ami Ill, Savannah Rodriguez, Piper Foote, Abrianna Gracia and Georgia Rea all recording hits while Rodriguez and Maddy Anderson got on base with walks.
 
After a strong weekend at the Razorback Invitational that saw her hit two home runs, Georgia Rea continued to find ways to put bat on ball in Western's four games against Indiana and Valparaiso. A freshman from Lawrence, Kan., Rea is in the midst of a six-game hitting streak that has brought her batting average up to .301. Defensively, Ami Ill and Piper Foote are players to watch in the Western Illinois outfield; the outfield duo has started a combined 28 games this season and holds a perfect fielding percentage.

What's next: 
After a run of games in Kentucky, the Leathernecks are headed closer to home to play a three-game series away at St. Louis University next weekend (March 18-19).

 
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