Softball Game Preview: Benton Tigers vs. Sullivan County Griffins

Benton hasn't had much luck against Sullivan County recently, but that could start to change on Monday. The Tigers will host the Griffins at 4:30 p.m. Benton has given up an average of 18.2 runs per game this season, but Monday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.

Benton came into their game on Friday off a hard-fought close win, but unfortunately suffered a serious change of fortune. They came up short against Montgomery, falling 18-4.

Meanwhile, it may have taken ten innings to finish the job, but Sullivan County ultimately got the result they hoped for on Thursday. They narrowly escaped with a victory as the team sidled past Bucktail 8-7. The win was nothing new for the Griffins as they're now sitting on four straight.

Emilia Viveiros spent all ten innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered seven earned runs on nine hits and racked up eight Ks. With that strong performance, she is now averaging an impressive 5.2 strikeouts per game.

On the hitting side, Kayla Fowler was a standout: she went 3-for-5 with two triples and two runs. Those two triples gave her a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Miley Dickinson, who got on base in four of her five plate appearances with three RBI.

They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Sullivan County kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in three consecutive matchups.

Benton's loss dropped their record down to 2-6. As for Sullivan County, their victory bumped their record up to 8-3.

Benton might still be hurting after the 16-0 defeat they got from Sullivan County in their previous meeting back in March. Will the Tigers have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.