Softball Game Preview: Iowa-Grant Panthers vs. Barneveld Eagles

The Iowa-Grant Panthers will head out to challenge the Barneveld Eagles at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. Iowa-Grant will be strutting in after a win while Barneveld will be coming in after a loss.

Iowa-Grant had to skate by with only a two-run margin when they last took the field, which might have inspired the ten-run drubbing they dealt Southwestern on Thursday. The Panthers were the clear victors by a 12-2 margin over the Wildcats. The Panthers have beaten the Wildcats the last seven times they've met, but they better watch out: this was the closest the Wildcats has come to flipping the script.

Lakyn Holman made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out seven batters over five innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off two hits. Holman was also stellar in the batter's box, going a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBI and one double.

In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Pajessa Baker, who scored three runs and stole a base while going 2-for-4. Another player making a difference was Quinn Hoeper, who went 2-for-3 with one triple, two RBI, and one run.

Iowa-Grant was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .440. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Southwestern only posted a batting average of .200.

Meanwhile, Barneveld came up short against Prairie du Chien on Thursday and fell 13-10.

Iowa-Grant couldn't quite finish off Barneveld in their previous meeting back in March of 2023 and fell 7-5. Can the Panthers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.