Western Illinois University Leathernecks Women’s Softball will play its first home series of the season against Southern Indiana, beginning March 13 at Mary Ellen McKee Softball Stadium in Macomb, according to a March 12 announcement by Nick Gordon of Leatherneck Athletic Communications.
The upcoming games are significant as they mark the start of the home schedule for Western Illinois, which competes at the NCAA Division I level and is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, according to the official website. The team forms part of Western Illinois University’s intercollegiate athletics offerings and operates out of Macomb, Illinois.
The Leathernecks currently lead the all-time series against Southern Indiana 5–3 and won two out of three games during last season’s matchup at USI. Entering this weekend’s contests, Southern Indiana holds a 3–0 record in conference play after sweeping Tennessee State. In contrast, Western Illinois stands at 0–2 in Ohio Valley Conference play following two losses to Southeast Missouri (SEMO). During that recent series, Western Illinois lost both games: a close 4–3 defeat in the opener and a 14–2 loss in five innings in game two. In both matches, Western Illinois scored first but was unable to maintain its lead.
Southern Indiana features several standout players this season. Freshman outfielder Katelyn Marx leads with a .333 batting average and is second on her team with 12 runs scored. Freshman infielder Jadyn Tinsley has improved her performance recently with a .346 average, while junior infielder Sydney Long leads with nine runs batted in. On the pitching staff, freshman Anna Kemp has posted a 4.06 earned run average over 50 innings pitched and recorded 40 strikeouts.
Western Illinois’ roster includes notable players such as Payton Brown, who has been recognized for her offensive contributions according to the official website.
Fans can follow updates about Leatherneck Softball on GoLeathernecks.com or through social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook for up-to-the-minute information.
