Skip To Main Content

Upcoming Events and Recent Results

Western Illinois University Athletics

carlin
George Hartmann

WIU Softball Faces NDSU in Omaha

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

The Leathernecks will play two games on Friday and one on Saturday.

Who | Western Illinois (7-25, 3-6) at North Dakota State (22-17, 4-4)
When | Friday (April 15), 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., Saturday (April 16), 11 a.m.
Where | Omaha, Neb.
Social Media | Instagram and Twitter + #TRADITIONofTOUGH


Matchup history: 
The Leathernecks and Bison have matched up 46 times in program history, with Western Illinois winning 11 total games. The teams played four games last season, all in Macomb, and it ended in a draw with both teams winning twice. The series started with a 6-2 victory that saw Savannah Rodriguez hit an RBI single to left in the third inning and close the door with a two-inning save that featured two strikeouts and no runs allowed.
 
After losing games two and three, Western closed that series with a decisive 11-3 victory. Abby Carlin started and went the distance, allowing three runs (two earned) while striking out six in six innings of work. Piper Foote led off the first inning with a double to center and scored in the next at-bat when Abrianna Gracia pounded a 1-0 pitch up the middle. Later in the inning, Jorja Hudson hit a sacrifice fly to left to tie the game at two runs apiece.
 
In the second inning, Bella Alvarez hit a grand slam to center field to extend Western's lead, and Rodriguez added a home run down the right field line in the bottom of the sixth to give Western an 11-3 lead and end the game on a mercy rule, as the Leathernecks held an eight-run advantage with at least five innings having been played. In total, Western scored 26 runs across all four matchups.
 

Scouting the Leathernecks: 
Veteran leadership has played a huge role for the Leathernecks this season, with several multi-year starters leading the team's season statistics. Ami Ill is batting a team-leading .322, with Savannah Rodriguez finding a rhythm from the plate against Summit League opponents and now sitting at second on the team for average at .283. No pitcher on the current roster has made more appearances than Abby Carlin, who holds a 2.4 ERA with 82 strikeouts across 22 appearances this season. Carlin's ERA is top-10 in the league this season and her strikeout total is the fourth-best.
 
Even with some veteran leaders, the Leatherneck underclass players have played huge roles this season. Kaylee Ketcherside's .268 batting average is third-best among Leatherneck hitters, while Georgia Rea is second on the team in appearances (31) and first in doubles (four), home runs (four) and RBIs (12).

Scouting the Bison:
North Dakota State is currently 22-17 on the season and coming off a two-win weekend against Kansas City, winning by a combined 5-1 score in a sweep of the Saturday doubleheader against Kansas City before Sunday's series finale was canceled due to rain. The Bison are one of the best hitting teams in the league, with a combined team batting average of .275 that ranks second in the league behind South Dakota State. Four players have at least 10 doubles this season, which also leads the Summit League.

What's next: 
Western Illinois is on the road for one more weekend, heading to Kansas City for a three-game series with the Roos; games are at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday (April 23) and 11 a.m. on Sunday (April 24).
 
 
Print Friendly Version

Related Videos

Now Playing:

Related Stories