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Softball action vs KC 700.4836 Leatherneck Softball hosts University of Missouri-Kansas City at Mary Ellen McKee stadium in Macomb, Ill. on Sunday, April 23, 2023. The team celebrated the senior players ahead of the last home game of the season.
Rachael Keating

Leathernecks Open Season with 5-Game Tournament at Northern Iowa

| By: WIU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Western Illinois will take on Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Butler, and Drake at the 2024 Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic

This Weekend's Schedule:

2024 Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic
  • February 9, @ 9 AM vs. Northern Illinois (ESPN+)
  • February 9, @ 2 PM vs. Northern Iowa (ESPN+)
  • February 10, @ 8 AM vs. Butler 
  • February 10, @ 10:30 AM vs. Drake
  • February 11, @ 4:30 PM vs. Northern Iowa (ESPN+)
(All Times Central)

Where | UNI-Dome - Cedar Falls, Iowa
Social Media | Instagram and Twitter 

How opponents fared in 2023:
WIU's first game of the 2024 season comes against Northern Illinois, who finished with a 26-25 overall record in 2023. The Huskies finished in 6th place in the Mid-American Conference, ending the year with a 15-13 conference record. Later on Friday, Western will face off against the hosts of the 2024 Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic, Northern Iowa. The Panthers were an absolute powerhouse in 2023, dominating the Missouri Valley Conference to the tune of a 26-1 record in conference play. They ultimately fell in the semifinals of the MVC tournament. 

On Saturday, The Leathernecks fill up the two early slots, starting with an 8 AM first pitch vs. Butler. The Bulldogs finished with an 18-35 record in 2023, and went 12-9 in Big East play. Following that match, Western will take on another squad of Bulldogs, this time from Drake. Drake finished with an 18-34 record in 2023, finishing 8th in the Missouri Valley. On Sunday, the Leathernecks wrap up the tournament with another game against Northern Iowa, with first pitch at 4:30 PM. 

Fresh faces:
2024 marks the first year that Western Illinois Softball will play in the Ohio Valley Conference, marking the start of a new era for Head Coach Alisa Goler and the Leathernecks. 

Western returns 16 players from their 2023 squad, and welcomes seven newcomers, including two junior college transfers. Starting off with the newcomers, outfielder Malia Robertson joins the Leathernecks after attending O'Fallon Township High School, where she was named First-Team All-Conference her junior and senior years. 

An All-State selection as a senior in high school, infielder Sophia Sanchez attended St. Laurence High School in Chicago, and looks to make an impact in her debut season. 

Catcher/Utility Valerie Combs is another freshman who calls Illinois her home, attending Nashville Community High School. She was named to the IHSA All-State teams her junior and senior years. 

A fourth freshman from the Land of Lincoln, Kayden Porter joins the Leathernecks for the 2024 campaign. Porter attended Marion Catholic High School, where she was an All-Conference softball selection, as well as a star in track and field, as she was a three-time state qualifier in shot put. 

Rounding out the group of freshmen is Lillie Wools, who attended Tuscarora High School in Leesburg, Virginia. Wools batted .500 her senior season and picked up All-State honors, while helping lead her team to multiple regional championships.

A pair of transfers from Danville Area Community College, Beth Pavy and Raven Morrison round out the seven newcomers to the 2024 squad. Pavy, an infielder, was a two-time Academic All-American, and earned All-Conference and All-Region honors during her time with the Jaguars. A pitcher/infielder hybrid, Raven Morrison joins the Leathernecks alongside Pavy. A native of Mattoon, IL, Morrison earned All-Conference, All-Region, and Academic All-American honors during a two-year stint at Danville Area Community College. 

A player to watch:
Leatherneck Senior Bella Alvarez was named Ohio Valley Conference Player to Watch ahead of the 2024 season. Splitting time between first and third base, Bella was a Second-Team All-Summit Selection in 2023. Alvarez led the team in multiple offensive categories, including team-leader in hits (41), doubles (nine), total bases (67), slugging percentage (.500) and OPS (.854) among others.

Coming up:
Western Illinois will take a 10-day road trip, starting on February 17, with a 3 game series at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Leathernecks will then travel down to Itta Bena, Mississippi, for a February 21 doubleheader vs. Mississippi Valley State. Following those series is another 5-game multi-team event, this time in Murray, Kentucky. The Leathernecks will take on Toledo, Murray State, and IUPUI from Feb 23-25 for the Velvet Milkman Classic.
 
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