The Rochester Warriors are taking a road trip to take on the Royal Knights at 1:00 p.m. on Friday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Rochester is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Thursday. They were the clear victors by an 8-1 margin over Cashmere.
Layna Demers spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on four hits and racked up ten Ks.
At the plate, Charlie Culp was excellent, going a perfect 2-for-2 with two runs and one RBI. That's the most hits she has posted since back in March. Another player making a difference was Cheyenne Justice, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI, one run, and one double.
Meanwhile, Royal came tearing into May 2nd's contest with six straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 11.2 runs), and they left with even more momentum. They were the clear victors by a 15-4 margin over the Rangers.
Jill Allred was a major factor no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out ten batters over five innings while giving up three earned (and one unearned) runs off six hits (and not a single walk). She has been consistent recently: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in four consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, three runs, and two doubles.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Emerson Eilers, who went 2-for-4 with three runs, one triple, and two RBI. Lily Delarosa was another key player, going 2-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI.
Royal hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their strikeout total in three consecutive matches.
Rochester has been performing well recently as they've won four of their last five games. That's provided a nice bump to their 15-6 record this season. As for Royal, their record is now 17-3.
Friday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Rochester has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .453. However, it's not like Royal struggles in that department as they've averaged .494. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
