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Mya Knuteson

Leathernecks Set to Start Ten Day Road Trip in Pine Bluff, Arkansas

| By: WIU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Western Illinois will take on Arkansas-Pine Bluff in a 3 game series, with a doubleheader on Sunday, February 18, and a single game the following Monday.

This Weekend's Schedule

Who | Arkansas Pine-Bluff
Where | Torii Hunter Softball Complex - Pine Bluff, AR
When | 
  • February 18, 12 PM CT
  • February 18, 2 PM CT
  • February 19, 11 AM CT
Social Media | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook 

Meet the Golden Lions:
Last season, UAPB went 10-38 overall with a 4-20 record in SWAC play. In 2024, Arkansas-Pine Bluff started out with a pair of losses in their only games so far. Taking on the St. Louis Billikens at home in a February 9th doubleheader, the Lions fell by scores of 3-5 and 0-10. A player to keep an eye on, Amari Broughton, went three for three with a double and a home run in the team's first matchup. The Golden Lions have seen four different pitchers hit the mound over their two games. Freshman game one starter Kayla Adams threw five innings, allowing two earned runs, and struck out six. 

Under the Dome:
Western started off their season with a five game tournament in the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, IA last weekend. WIU went down 0-7 in their first game vs. Northern Illinois, before a late rally nearly brought them even, with the game ending at 6-8 in favor of the Huskies. Later that day, a tough matchup against Northern Iowa saw the Leathernecks fall 0-6. The next day, Western played an early game against Butler, where the Bulldogs took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning. After Western scored a run on an RBI single, the Leathernecks stranded three runners in the frame, ending the game with a 1-2 loss. Western Illinois would take on Drake in the second game of Saturday, trading runs early with the Bulldogs, until a seven-run third inning saw Drake pull away with a 2-10 win. Looking to end the tournament with a win, both pitching and hitting stepped up in Sunday's matchup vs. Northern Iowa, where the Leathernecks would come back to Macomb with a 7-3 win over the Panthers, ending the weekend at 1-4.

Impact from the Newcomers:
Western Illinois' newcomers, including five freshmen and two junior transfers, played big roles in last weekend's tournament. Freshman Malia Robertson ended the tournament with two doubles, two stolen bases, and a 1.138 OPS. Another freshman, Sophia Sanchez, started in every game over the past weekend, collecting four hits. Behind the backstop, Valerie Combs started four games at catcher as a true freshman. Transfer Beth Pavy came through with a clutch RBI in Sunday's game vs. Northern Iowa. And on the mound, transfer Raven Morrison threw 9.2 innings and picked up the win vs. Northern Iowa, while freshman Lillie Wools threw 6.2 innings over three games. 

Familiar Faces:
It wasn't only the newcomers who made an impact, as players from last year's squad stepped up as well. Sophomore Rylee Boone went 6-11 with a double over the weekend. Seniors Gabriela Drager and Bella Alvarez also performed well at the plate, as Drager takes a five-game hitting streak into Pine Bluff. Alvarez knocked in four runners and reached base safely in seven of her 14 plate appearances over the weekend. Emily Price had a great showing on the mound, pitching 15 innings with a 2.80 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and added 19 strikeouts. 

Coming Up:
WIU will continue their road trip, crossing the Mississippi River over to Itta Bena, MS to play Mississippi Valley State. The Leathernecks will have a doubleheader there on Wednesday, February 21st, before coming back north to Murray, KY for a five game, multi-team event from February 23rd to the 25th. 
 
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