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Western Illinois University?s softball team competes against North Dakota State University at Mary Ellen McKee Stadium in Macomb, Ill. on April 2, 2023.
Rachael Keating

Week 11 Preview: The Home Stretch

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

Western Illinois softball hosts Iowa in the final non-league game of the year before hosting Kansas City in the team’s final home series of the 2023 season.

This Week's Schedule (all games in Macomb)
  • Wednesday, April 19, 4 p.m. – Iowa
  • Saturday, April 22, 1 / 3 p.m. – Kansas City (DH)
  • Sunday, April 23, 12 p.m. – Kansas City (senior day)
Social Media | Instagram & Twitter (@WIUSoftball)

Matchup history: 
The Leathernecks and Hawkeyes have an extensive playing history that dates back to an 8-0 Western Illinois victory on April 30, 1978, in the first game of this series. Both teams have faced off a total of 51 times, with Iowa holding a 29-22 advantage in the series. These teams last matched up on March 27, 2019, which ended as a 10-1 Leatherneck victory in Iowa City.
 
Against Kansas City, Western Illinois holds a 49-33 advantage across 82 matchups dating back to a 5-1 neutral site victory on March 27, 1994. The Roos took two of a three game series last season, with Western winning a 10-inning game during the series finale. After the Roos put two runs on the board early, a two-RBI single in the seventh inning by Abrianna Gracia leveled the game before Jorja Hudson hit another two-RBI single in the 10th inning to fuel the victory.
 
Scouting the Leathernecks: 
A true freshman from Murphysboro, Ill., Malorie Gill had the best hitting game of her young career in Western's 9-6 victory on Sunday, finishing 3-4 with four RBI and one run scored. Only two other Leathernecks have recorded at least four RBI in a single game this season, and Gill's performance set a new career-best mark for both hits and RBI. Gill has made 22 starts across 29 total appearances this season in the Western Illinois infield.
 
Kaylee Ketcherside also played a big role in that 9-6 victory, finishing 3-5 with an RBI and three runs scored. Her RBI came in extra innings off a fielder's choice, which put Western Illinois ahead 7-6 before scoring later in the inning on a sacrifice fly. After making 41 appearances last year, Ketcherside has played in 28 of the team's 35 games this season, starting 25 while holding a perfect fielding percentage in the Leatherneck outfield.
 
Another true freshman, Sophia Honse had the best performance of her young career during the first game of last weekend's series against South Dakota. Coming on in relief of Emily Price, Honse allowed just one hit while striking out two across two scoreless innings in the circle. Originally from Salem, Ore., Honse has pitched in eight games this season while making 13 total appearances. 
 
The 9-6 victory proved to be one for the record books, as Western Illinois recorded 18 total hits to tie for seventh-most in a single game in program history, and it was the most hits by an Alisa Goler-led Western Illinois team. Seven Leathernecks recorded multi-hit games as Malorie Gill (3-4, four RBI), Kaylee Ketcherside (3-5, one RBI), Gabriela Drager (2-4, one RBI), Bella Alvarez (2-5, one RBI), Maria Luna (2-5), Savannah Rodriguez (2-5) and Georgia Rea (2-5, two triples) combined with Cynthia Hull and Jorja Hudson for the 18 total hits across 41 plate appearances.

What's next: 
This weekend's series marks the final time in the 2023 season that Western Illinois will play at home with six games remaining in the regular season. WIU will face Omaha on the road next weekend before traveling to face North Dakota the following week; the 2023 Summit League Softball Championship is scheduled for May 10-13 in Brookings, S.D.
 
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