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Rachael Keating

Leathernecks Head to Music City in Pivotal Conference Series

| By: WIU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Western takes on Tennessee State in a three-game series this Saturday and Sunday.

Who | Tennessee State
Where | Tiger Field - Nashville, TN
When | 
Saturday, April 20 @ 1 PM 
Saturday, April 20 @ 3:30 PM 
Sunday, April 21 @ 1 PM
(All times central)
This weekend's series will not be available on ESPN+, but live stats are available here.

Meet the Tigers:
Tennessee State goes into this weekend's series with a 20-19 record, and a 11-7 record in OVC play, sitting in fourth place in the conference. The Tigers swept SIUE last weekend, scoring 19 runs in the three-game series. Led by two excellent hitters, graduate shortstop Nahtali Simpson and sophomore catcher Onnika Spencer, the Tigers boast a top-three scoring offense in the conference, and the duo have combined for ten homers on the year. Tennessee State utilizes three pitchers, all with 50 or more innings in the year, including junior right-hander Caitlyn Manus who picked up OVC Pitcher of the Week honors two weeks ago. 

The Leathernecks so far:
Western Illinois is 14-26 overall with a 4-14 record in conference play, tied for ninth in the OVC. Last weekend, the Leathernecks were swept by Lindenwood, but look to bounce back in Nashville. The Leatherneck offense, which hasn't scored four runs in a game since March 17, has a big weekend ahead of them, facing the Tigers who have the second-highest ERA in the OVC. 

OVC Tournament Hopes:
With just nine conference games left in the regular season, Western sits two games back of eighth place, behind SIUE. The top eight teams qualify for the OVC tournament, which is held from May 8-11 in Peoria, Illinois. 

Premier Pitcher:
Leatherneck senior Emily Price impressed again last weekend, pitching 14.1 innings in the series against Lindenwood. She allowed only four earned runs and struck out 14 batters over the weekend, solidifying her place as one of the conference's top pitchers. Price ranks in the top ten in the conference in many categories, including ERA (2.53), innings pitched (116.1), strikeouts (104), and wins (7). Price, in her third year with the Leathernecks, has improved her ERA every year, after posting a team-high 3.41 mark in 2023. 

Going National:
On Monday, April 1, USA Softball announced that Leathernecks' head coach Alisa Goler will be an assistant coach for the Elite and U-18 teams this summer. Goler, in her fourth year with the Leathernecks, stated "It's a great honor for me, earning this opportunity to coach these teams. Working for USA Softball is the highest honor as a softball coach, and I am grateful for this opportunity."

OVC Honors:
Leatherneck senior Bella Alvarez picked up Western Illinois' first conference honor of the year on February 26. The corner infielder was tabbed the OVC's Player of the Week after racking up 10 RBIs, two home runs, and two doubles as she batted above .400 in an eight-game stretch. 

Coming Up:
Western has just seven more regular season games remaining in the 2024 season, with a series at SEMO next weekend. The Leathernecks will wrap up the regular season with a April 30 matchup at home against Kansas City, then a final series at Mary Ellen McKee Stadium against Southern Indiana from May 4-5. 
 
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