The Beaver Dam Golden Beavers will face off against the Wisconsin Lutheran Vikings at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. Beaver Dam is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.2 runs per game this season.
Having struggled with three losses in a row, Beaver Dam turned things around against Monona Grove on Friday. They skirted past the Silver Eagles 4-3. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Golden Beavers have posted since April 22nd.
Beaver Dam's victory was truly a team effort as six different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Kendall Fakes, who went 1-for-3 with one run, one double, and one RBI.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin Lutheran faced Oak Creek in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Friday. The Vikings blew past the Knights 10-3. The result was nothing new for the Vikings, who have now won 13 contests by seven runs or more so far this season.
Sydney Vitangcol spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned runs on five hits and racked up 15 Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than 11 strikeouts in 11 consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Wisconsin Lutheran let Brooklyn Haag and Reese Grudzielanek run wild. Haag went 3-for-5 with four RBI, one run, and one double, while Grudzielanek went 3-for-4 with two runs, two doubles, and one stolen base. Those four RBI gave Haag a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Zhana Guenther, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run.
Wisconsin Lutheran kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least 11 hits in three consecutive matchups.
Wisconsin Lutheran pushed their record up to 15-1 with the win, which was their fifth straight on the road. Those road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 11.2 runs over those games. As for Beaver Dam, their win bumped their record up to 11-8.
Saturday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Beaver Dam has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .432. However, it's not like Wisconsin Lutheran struggles in that department as they've averaged .481. 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.
