Skip To Main Content

Upcoming Events and Recent Results

Western Illinois University Athletics

Softball Action vs South Dakota 700.4736
Sarah Ritter

Week 1 Preview: The Regular Season Commences

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

Western Illinois softball will play five games in three days at the Rosemont Dome in Chicago, Ill.

The Weekend Schedule
  • Friday, Feb. 10, 12:30 p.m. – Detroit Mercy
  • Friday, Feb. 10, 5:30 p.m. – Valparaiso
  • Saturday, Feb. 11, 5 p.m. – Saint Louis University
  • Sunday, Feb. 12, 9 a.m. – Bowling Green
  • Sunday, Feb. 12, 11 a.m. – Detroit Mercy
Where | Rosemont Dome – Chicago, Ill.
Social Media | Instagram and Twitter 

Matchup history: 
Western Illinois has played seven games against Detroit Mercy, winning five times. The last matchup came on Feb. 12, 2017, which ended as a 5-1 Titans victory in a neutral site tournament hosted by UIC. The Friday night matchup, Valparaiso, is a team Western Illinois softball is familiar with, having played twice last season and 67 times in program history. The Beacons won both of last season's games, played at the Hoosier Classic, taking a 2-1 victory on March 4 and then defeating Western 10-1 the next day.
 
Saturday's contest against Saint Louis features another opponent that Western played last season, with the Billikens winning a three-game series played in St. Louis. The final day of the tournament commences with a matchup against Bowling Green, who Western has defeated in six of the eight total contests that have been played between the two sides – though BGSU was victorious in a single game last season, also played at the Rosemont Dome. This weekend's tournament concludes with another matchup against Detroit Mercy.

Players to Watch: 
Head coach Alisa Goler welcomed seven new faces to the program this offseason; six freshmen and one transfer.
 
A graduate of Prairie View High School in LaCygne, Kan., Rylee Boone was a three-time First Team All-League selection and earned First Team All-State recognition in both 2021 and 2022, also playing travel ball for Aces Fastpitch. Joining Boone in the freshman class is Sophia Honse, who is originally from Salem, Ore., playing travel ball for the NW Bullets and coming off a strong senior season that saw her hit .541 with 14 home run and 43 RBIs at the plate, also striking out 139 batters and throwing three no-hitters in the circle.
 
Ranked the No. 93 outfielder and No. 177 player overall by Extra Innings is Alivia Beard, who also played travel ball for Aces Fastpitch. Beard also earned varsity letters in basketball and track, and even broke multiple school records as a sprinter during her senior year. Kathryn McChristy, a pitcher from Jonesburg, Mo., won four letters during her high school career and was twice named the GAC North Player of the Year (2019, 2021) while earning First Team All-Conference, First Team All-District, and First Team All-Region honors from 2018-21.
 
Having won the Kansas City Nationals with Illinois Force this summer is Malorie Gill, an infielder from Murphysboro, Ill. Gill also served as her school's valedictorian and was recognized as the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year at Murphysboro High School. Rounding out the class of freshmen is Maria Luna, who played travel ball for Empire Fastpitch and was a four-year letter winner at Chino Hills High School in Chino Hills, Calif. Luna, who credits her parents as the biggest influences on her athletic career, and plays both pitcher and in the infield.
 
The lone transfer that is new to WIU's program is Riley Eagan, who played two seasons at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Mo. Eagan was a two-time First Team All-Conference selection and finished her two seasons at third in the Jefferson College record book with 24 home runs, even hitting 15 in one season.
 
The 2022 team leader in extra-base hits, home runs, RBIs, slugging percentage and walks, Georgia Rea was named as a Summit League player to watch on Wednesday (Feb. 8), and was joined by Savannah Rodriguez in that same release, who was noted as a Pitcher to Watch. Rodriguez made 16 appearances in the circle last season, striking out 43 batters in 53.2 innings of work, also starting 37 games as a hitter and recording a .260 average and six multi-hit games.
 
Another player who made appearances both at the plate and in the circle last season was Emily Price, who made 19 appearances in the circle and struck out a season-high four opponents against Omaha on May 7. With last year's team leader in innings pitched having graduated Price and Rodriguez will have ample opportunities to lead the team's rotation this season.
 
Among Leathernecks who had a minimum of 100 defensive chances last season, two of Western's most effective defenders are also set to make their 2023 season debuts this weekend. Bella Alvarez (94.8%) and Jorja Hudson (98.5%) were among the team's best at limiting errors and converting defensive opportunities. Both Leathernecks also had key moments at the plate last season as well, with Alvarez hitting her lone home run of the season against South Dakota on April 30 and Hudson hitting in two Leatherneck baserunners during the 10th inning of a 4-2 WIU victory over Kansas City on April 24.
 
Ranking second on the team in average (.264), games played (41), at bats (106), hits (28) and stolen bases (four), Kaylee Ketcherside will also look to build off a strong freshman season. Originally from Chebanse, Ill., Ketcherside had six multi-hit games last season and finished 3-4 with a triple and two RBIs during a 2-0 victory over Evansville on March 13.
 
What's next: 
After spending this weekend in Chicago, Western will head south to Tennessee, playing five games in a tournament hosted by Chattanooga next weekend. Opponents include Indiana State (Feb. 17, 11:30 a.m.), Maine (Feb. 17, 1 p.m. / Feb. 18, 11:30 a.m.) and the tournament hosts (Feb. 18, 4:30 p.m. / Feb. 19, 12:30 p.m.).
Print Friendly Version

Related Videos

Now Playing:

Related Stories