Parkersburg is 2-8 against Cabell Midland since March of 2018 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Friday. The Big Reds are taking a road trip to square off against the Knights at 5:30 p.m. Parkersburg has given up an average of 7.7 runs per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Parkersburg is headed into Friday's matchup looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their fourth straight game on Tuesday. They were two runs away from ending the streak, but they lost an 11-9 heartbreaker at the hands of Riverside. On the bright side, the nine- run effort marked the Big Reds' highest-scoring contest to date.
Krista Durkin made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI. She also hit a double, marking her first of the season. Another player making a difference was Brynn Frye, who went 1-for-3 with one home run and three RBI.
Meanwhile, Cabell Midland had already won three in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 9.7 runs) and they went ahead and made it four on Thursday. They had just enough and edged out the Skyhawks 4-2.
Audrea Watts spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned runs on two hits and racked up 11 Ks. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in 11 consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Becca Conrad was excellent, going 1-for-4 with one triple, two RBI, and one run. Nicole Harris was another key player, going 2-for-4 with one run, one double, and one RBI.
Cabell Midland hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. The team has now struck out at least five batters in four consecutive games.
Parkersburg's loss dropped their record down to 1-6. As for Cabell Midland, their record is now 12-2.
Fans could be in store for some top-tier slugging on Friday. Parkersburg hasn't had any problems when it comes to power this season, having averaged 0.4 home runs per game. However, it's not like Cabell Midland struggles in that department as they've been averaging 0.6 home runs. With so much power on both teams, it'll be down to the pitchers to keep the mound locked down.
Parkersburg might still be hurting after the 14-2 defeat they got from Cabell Midland in their previous meeting back in April of 2024. Can the Big Reds avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
