Austin has won three straight games at home, while Lawrence County has won three straight on the road, but those streaks won't matter much on Tuesday. The Black Bears will welcome the Red Devils at 4:30 p.m. Austin is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.5 runs per game this season.
Austin is headed into the game having just suffered their biggest loss since April 8th on Saturday. They came up short against Oakland, falling 11-1.
Austin saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Arden Breedlove, who went 1-for-2 with one stolen base.
Meanwhile, Lawrence County got the win against West Morgan on Thursday by a conclusive 9-3. The Red Devils might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won 16 matchups by six runs or more this season.
Raegan Johnson spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned (and one unearned) runs on five hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances.
At the plate, AB McKay was incredible, going 1-for-2 with one home run and two runs. The team also got some help courtesy of Emily Byars, who earned three runs and three stolen bases.
Lawrence County has been performing incredibly well recently as they've won 11 of their last 12 contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 36-10-1 record this season. Those victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 7.3 runs over those games. As for Austin, their defeat dropped their record down to 31-14-1.
Tuesday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Austin hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .326. However, it's not like Lawrence County struggles in that department as they've averaged .322. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Austin came up short against Lawrence County in their previous meeting back in February, falling 4-1. Will the Black Bears have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
