Western Illinois University Leathernecks Women’s Softball will travel to Charleston to play a three-game series against Eastern Illinois, beginning Saturday, March 28. The games are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, with the final matchup set for Sunday at noon.
This series is important as Western Illinois aims to build on its recent success after securing its first Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) series win of the season. The upcoming games also present a challenge, as Eastern Illinois currently leads the OVC with an undefeated conference record.
Last week, Western Illinois won two out of three games against Morehead State. After losing the first game, the team rebounded in game two with a tenth-inning RBI single by Kam Utendorf that brought home Addie McLaughlin for the win. In game three, strong pitching from Audrey Clark and Libby Spaulding helped secure a 4-2 victory through timely hits in the fifth and sixth innings.
The Leathernecks lead the OVC in batting average at .302. Payton Brown and Ruby Tarr are ranked fourth and fifth respectively in RBIs within the conference, while Brown also holds first place in slugging percentage at .731. Libby Spaulding is currently fourth among OVC pitchers for strikeouts. On Eastern Illinois’s side, pitcher Rylan Gick leads the conference in both innings pitched and wins; Lexie Griffin ranks third in RBIs with 25 and second in home runs.
Western Illinois University Leathernecks Women’s Softball competes at the NCAA Division I level according to their official website. The team is part of Western Illinois University’s intercollegiate athletics offerings based in Macomb, Illinois according to their official website. They maintain membership within the Ohio Valley Conference according to their official website, competing as an NCAA Division I program according to their official website.
Notable players include Payton Brown who has been recognized for her offensive contributions according to their official website. Fans can follow updates about Leatherneck Softball through GoLeathernecks.com or on social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.
