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Westerwinds host Augustana before opening road Summit League play

July 3, 2008 on 8:47 pm | In Athletics |

MACOMB, Ill. - With the last three games against Oakland canceled due to weather and field conditions, the Western Illinois softball team resumes the 2008 schedule with a home game against Augustana College, Wednesday, at 4 p.m. and a three-game conference series against North Dakota State, April 5-6.

Western Illinois first baseman Samantha Valentine continues to lead the Westerwinds (3-16, 2-0 The Summit League) at bat with a .386 batting average, which is also the fourth-highest batting average in the conference.

Kamren Ferguson is the leading pitcher for Western Illinois with a 3.34 ERA in 73.1 innings of work. Ferguson (2-9) has struck out 67 batters on the season. Other pitchers who have made appearances for Western Illinois include Colleen Biebel, Courtney Jacobson and Lori Pankratz.

AUGUSTANA COLLEGE
Augustana College comes to Macomb off an 8-0 shutout over Ripon, March 30 in Rock Island. The Vikings’ (10-7) senior Sara Brokaw leads at the plate, hitting .407 in 17 games played. Brokaw has recorded 22 hits with three doubles, one triple, two home runs and 13 RBIs. Brokaw also holds a 3-1 record as a pitcher for Augustana with a 3.27 ERA.

In the circle for the Vikings is junior Jenna Szybowicz with a 2.33 ERA in eight appearances. Szybowicz (5-2) has completed one game allowing 38 hits, 27 walks and striking out 34 batters. With 41 innings of work, Jordan Huff holds a 1-4 record with a 2.90 ERA.

Following the regularly scheduled game at 4 p.m. will be a scrimmage game between Western Illinois and Augustana.

NORTH DAKOTA STATE
North Dakota State has a pair of double headers against Drake and Minnesota scheduled before facing the Westerwinds in the Miken Dome, Saturday, April 5 at noon.

The Bison (25-12, 2-1 The Summit League) dropped their only conference loss to UMKC, 0-1, while capturing two wins against the Kangaroos. Picked third in the conference preseason poll, North Dakota State currently sits tied for second with South Dakota State in The Summit League standings with a .667 winning percentage and leads the conference in both team batting (.298 average) and team pitching (2.60 ERA).

Melissa Chmielewski has started all 37 games and leads the conference with a .435 batting average. The sophomore infielder has recorded 50 hits with eight doubles, eight home runs and 40 RBIs in 115 at bats.

Allison Bakke is the leading pitcher for The Summit League with a 1.79 ERA in 121.1 innings of work. Bakke (17-5) has struck out 119 batters and walked 35 batters, while allowing only 94 hits. Others in the Bison pitching staff include Bekki Rasmussen with a 3.06 ERA and a 6-6 record and Andi Padilla with a 4.61 ERA and a 2-1 record.

Originaly from Source