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Sarah Ritter

Week Eight Preview: Where the North Meets the West

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

WIU Softball plays host to North Dakota State this weekend in Macomb.

The Weekend Schedule
  • Saturday, April 1, 3 p.m. 
  • Sunday, April 2, 10 a.m. / 12:30 p.m. (DH)
Where | Mary Ellen McKee Stadium – Macomb, Ill.
Social Media | Instagram & Twitter (@WIUSoftball)

Matchup history: 
North Dakota State has controlled the all-time series as Western Illinois holds an 11-38 record dating back to the first matchup on April 5, 2008. The Bison took the series last year, defeating Western in all three games in a series that was played in Omaha, Neb., due to weather conditions in Fargo. During the 2021 season, Western took two games in a four-game series, including a matchup that saw current Leathernecks Abrianna Gracia (RBI single), Bella Alvarez (grand slam) and Savannah Rodriguez (solo home run) fuel an 11-3 victory.
 
Players to Watch:
The team-leader in innings pitched this season, Emily Price has been one of the most effective pitchers in the Summit League this season, currently holding a 2.56 ERA that is the third-lowest among qualified pitchers. Her 24 total earned runs allowed is the fourth-fewest while her six complete games is tied for fifth-most; with opposing batters hitting .253 against her and 65 total strikeouts, Price ranks sixth in the league.

Georgia Rea set a new career-high for hits in a single game against Tennessee Tech during WIU's most recent stretch of games, finishing a perfect 3-3 during the first game of a March 14 doubleheader. Rea also scored a run in that game off a Malorie Gill single that put Western ahead 3-2. Originally from Lawrence, Kan., she's hitting .246 for the season with one home run and two stolen bases while proving to be an effective player defensively; Rea is one of just eight players in the entire Summit League to hold a perfect fielding percentage for the season and is joined by fellow Leatherneck Cynthia Hull on that list of eight.
 
In the second game of that doubleheader against Tennessee Tech, Jorja Hudson tied a career-best mark with two hits, finishing 2-3 with two singles while also getting on base with a fielder's choice after a bunt. Hudson, who had a career-best season last year, has started 13 of her 16 appearances during the 2022-23 season and holds a fielding percentage of 97.1 on over 100 total chances while leading the team in total putouts (98).

What's next: 
Western's home stand continues next week, as the SIUE Cougars are slated to play in Macomb on Tuesday (April 4) after the previous doubleheader was postponed due to weather. After hosting SIUE, Western hits the road to face St. Thomas for a series that will be played across Friday and Saturday of next week, April 7-8.
 
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