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George Hartmann

Leathernecks Head to Kansas City

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

Western Illinois softball will play three games against the Roos.

Matchup history: 
WIU and UMKC have faced off 79 times in program history, dating back to the first time they played on March 27, 1994. The Leathernecks hold a 48-31 advantage in the all-time series, playing each other at least once a year in 25 of the last 28 seasons. Last season, the Leathernecks and Roos played four times.
 
Savannah Rodriguez hit quite well in the series, recording five hits and four RBIs in the four-game series which included a home run to left center in the second matchup. In game four, Rodriguez even went 3-4 with a double. During that same game where Rodriguez homered, three other current Leathernecks finished with multi-hit performances: Ami Ill (two singles), Abrianna Gracia (two singles) and Piper Foote (single and a double).
 
Abby Carlin went the distance in game one and allowed seven hits and two runs (two earned) while striking out four, and would strike out seven more Roos across 7.1 innings of action in the rest of the series, giving her 14.1 total innings of action during that weekend. Maddy Anderson threw 10.2 innings spread across three outings in the same series, including three shutout innings in game three.

Scouting the Leathernecks: 
Ami Ill's strong senior season has continued as the year progresses, and she's coming off a weekend that saw her record hits in two of three games against the Bison. Ill's .316 average currently leads all Leatherneck hitters, and she's recorded hits in 26 of her 35 appearances this season. Ill's average is a top-15 mark among all qualified Summit League hitters while starting each of the team's 35 games this season.
 
Bella Alvarez has been steady in the Leatherneck infield this season. Alvarez is coming off an NDSU series where she recorded two extra-base hits in three games, doubling in both games of the Friday doubleheader. The Santa Clarita, Calif., native has played a huge role in Western's infield this season, splitting time between first and third base during her 24 appearances.

Scouting the Roos:
The Roos are 8-29 this season, holding a 4-7 record against Summit League opponents while playing seven games against opponents ranked among the top-25 teams in the nation. Kansas City most recently went 0-3 in a weekend series on the road at South Dakota State, with the final matchup going eight innings. Kloe Hilbrenner is having a strong season for the Roos, batting .363 which is good for third-best in the Summit League. Mia Hoveland and Camryn Stickel, both of whom pitched in the series against WIU last season, lead the team in innings pitched and have combined to throw 13 complete games this season.

What's next: 
After this weekend's series, the Leathernecks are at home for six of the final seven games, hosting South Dakota next weekend (April 30-May 1) and Omaha (May 6-7) with a single road matchup against the University of Illinois scheduled for May 4. Next weekend's South Dakota series is scheduled to be played in a doubleheader on Saturday at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., with an 11 a.m. matchup on Sunday for the final matchup of the weekend.
 
 
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