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George Hartmann

Week Three Preview: Closer to Home

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

Leatherneck softball plays four games this weekend in St. Charles, Mo.

The Weekend Schedule
  • Saturday, Feb. 25, 12:30 p.m. – Lindenwood
  • Saturday, Feb. 25, 3 p.m. – Green Bay
  • Sunday, Feb. 26, 2 p.m. – Lindenwood
  • Sunday, Feb. 26, 4:30 p.m. – Lindenwood
Where | Lou Brock Sports Complex – St. Charles, Mo.
Social Media | Instagram & Twitter (@WIUSoftball)

Matchup history: 
Western Illinois and tournament hosts Lindenwood have not played in the 50 year history of Leatherneck softball, and the 2023 season marks the Lions' first at the Division-I level. LU did find great success at the D-II level last season with a 35-13 record and enter this weekend's games with a 2-8 record this year. Against Green Bay, WIU holds a 25-6 record dating back to the first matchup on April 11, 1986. The Phoenix are 4-6 this season after going 2-3 in a tournament last weekend that was hosted by the University of Evansville.

Players to Watch: 
The team-leader in ERA, Emily Price has come out strong to start the 2023 campaign. Through the first two weekends of play, Price ranks fourth in the Summit League with a 2.30 ERA while ranking fourth in hits allowed (19), second in total earned runs (seven), and fifth in opponent batting average (.226). After throwing 34 innings last year, she's up to 21.1 innings pitched through her first four appearances this season, making three starts and twice pitching a complete game.
 
Savannah Rodriguez has proven to have a knack for striking out opposing hitters and enters this weekend with 38 strikeouts through her first six appearances this season – good for third-most among Summit League pitchers. She's finished two games with double-digit strikeouts this season and leads the team in innings pitched (30.2) while also finding success as a hitter, entering this weekend as the team-leader in at-bats (27), home runs (two), RBIs (five) and total bases (14).
 
In her second year as a Leatherneck, Georgia Rea is coming off a strong weekend of play in Chattanooga. She finished the weekend 4-12 (.333) with two runs scored while playing a variety of different positions for the Leathernecks, playing both in the outfield and behind the plate as a catcher. Playing as the center fielder against Maine on Feb. 17, Rea made an impressive diving catch in shallow left-center and boasts a perfect fielding percentage on 16 total chances this season.
 
The Leathernecks have seen true freshmen come in and make an impact from day one, with Maria Luna and Kathryn McChristy playing a role in the team early in their careers.
 
Luna has started six of her eight appearances this season and has shown a knack for getting on base with a good eye at the plate, leading the time with five walks this season while also driving in three runs. She had two hits and accounted for three RBIs in last weekend's tournament in Chattanooga, hitting a sacrifice fly against Maine before smacking a two-RBI single through the left side of the Chattanooga infield one day later. The Chino Hills, Calif., native struck out one batter in her lone appearance in the circle earlier this season against SLU.
 
McChristy has made two appearances in the circle this season, allowing four earned runs across 5.2 innings pitched and starting both games. Against SLU on Feb. 11, McChristy threw three innings, allowing four hits and one earned run while walking one opposing hitter before pitching 2.2 innings against Chattanooga last weekend. She holds a perfect fielding percentage after finishing with two assists against the Mocs.
 
What's next: 
WIU heads west to Wichita, Kan., for its next tournament, playing in the 2023 Black & Yellow Challenge hosted by Wichita State. The team will play two games apiece against Wichita State and Bradley.
 
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