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Sav, Bella
Sarah Ritter

WIU Softball Concludes Regular Season

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

Leathernecks hit the road for a non-league matchup with Illinois before hosting Omaha this weekend.

Who: Western Illinois (8-33, 4-14) at Illinois (32-17) / versus Omaha (26-12, 14-4)
When | Wednesday (May 4), 5 p.m. / Friday (May 6), 3:30 p.m. and Saturday (May 7), 12 p.m and 2:30 p.m.
Where | Eichelberger Field - Urbana, Ill. / Mary Ellen McKee Stadium – Macomb, Ill.
Social Media | Instagram and Twitter + #TRADITIONofTOUGH


Matchup history: 
Western Illinois and the University of Illinois have played seven times in a series that dates back to their first matchup on April 23, 1982, which the Leathernecks won 5-2. Western won the second game of the series, 5-4, back in 2007, but have been winless in the last five games – including a 7-0 loss this past February in the Razorback Invitational.

The all-time series against Omaha dates back to 1975, and both teams have played each other tight since then, with the Mavericks holding a 16-14 advantage in the win column. These teams split a four-game series last season that was played in Omaha, starting with a 3-1 victory in game one of the series that saw Abby Carlin pitch a complete game and strikeout five while Savannah Rodriguez hit a home run and drove in two runners. Rodriguez would hit a three-run home run in a 3-4 loss during game two, also allowing just one run on three hits and striking out three as the starting pitcher.
 
Omaha took game three 9-1 before Western closed the series out with a victory. Savannah Rodriguez and Abrianna Gracia went back-to-back with an RBI double and RBI single to give the Leathernecks 2-0 lead in the first inning, and Ami Ill added an RBI single in the second to grow Western's lead. Carlin threw another complete game as Western left Omaha victorious, 3-2.
 
 
All About the Seniors
Ami Ill has been a standout in the Leatherneck lineup this season, and Saturday's series will mark the final regular season appearances of her collegiate career. Originally from Mokena, Ill., Ill started her career at the University of Toledo, where she made 72 starts across two seasons. Ill then transferred to Western Illinois where she has been a steady member of the WIU lineup, making 78 appearances (66 starts) in two seasons.
 
She's taken her game to a new level this year, improving her batting average by nearly 100 points, and leads the team in a variety of statistical categories: appearances (41), starts (41), at-bats (119), batting average (.311), runs (15), hits (37), triples (three) and total bases (43), while also having the fewest strikeouts among Leatherneck hitters with at least 60 at-bats.
 
Abby Carlin is playing in her fifth season as a Leatherneck, having made 102 appearances (72 starts) and pitching over 466 total innings. At 102 appearances, Carlin currently ranks seventh all-time in appearances, with several games remaining in this current season. Carlin's numbers speak for themselves, as she has led the team in ERA in each of the last three seasons, and even earned Summit League Pitcher of the Week and Summit League All-Academic honors last season.
 
Carlin currently holds a team-best 3.55 ERA across 28 appearances (18 starts) this season, throwing 11 complete games and making two saves. With 109 total strikeouts, the Huxley, Iowa, native sits in fifth place among Summit League pitchers, while her save total is tied for fourth-best in the League.

Daytona Dooley will be playing in her final regular season series as a Leatherneck this week. Originally from Carthage, Ill., Dooley has made 56 appearances (25 starts) Western Illinois career that has spanned the last three seasons. She's been a valuable role player for the team this season, with a perfect fielding percentage on each of her defensive chances and is described by head coach Alisa Goler as a "great teammate."
 

Scouting the Opponents:
The Fighting Illini of Illinois are 32-17 and hold a 14-5 record against Big Ten opposition. The team is coming off a series victory on the road at Indiana, winning 6-4 and 2-0 before falling in an extra inning game during the series finale. The team's strength is its hitting, currently sitting second in the Big Ten for batting average at .313 while also boasting three pitchers with an ERA below three.
 
Omaha is currently 26-12 on the season and 14-4 while facing Summit League competition, which puts them at second place in the league standings, just behind South Dakota State at 15-2. The Mavericks are on a roll at the moment, having won their last eight-straight games and 14 of the last 16. Omaha's ace, Kamryn Meyer, has an ERA of just 1.16 and she leads the Summit League in strikeouts, while the offense is fueled by three hitters with averages above .330.
 
What's Next:
There is still a chance for the Leathernecks to play in the Summit League Tournament, as Western sits just one game behind North Dakota for the final spot. Should Western make it, the team would travel to South Dakota, for a tournament that is scheduled to take place May 11-14 in Brookings, S.D. 
 
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