Softball Game Preview: Strafford Indians vs. Stockton Tigers

The Strafford Indians will take on the Stockton Tigers at 5:00 p.m. on Friday.

Lamar hit Strafford with a eight-run fifth inning on Thursday, which goes a long way in explaining the final result. The Indians fell just short of the Tigers by a score of 8-7. The Indians have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.

Dalyce Scrivener was cooking despite her team's loss, going 1-for-4 with one home run, two runs, and one stolen base. Another player making a difference was Kaelyn Rhodes, who went 3-for-4 with three runs and one double.

Meanwhile, Stockton faced Buffalo in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Thursday. The Tigers came out on top against the Bison by a score of 3-2 (the very same score they lost by in their prior game). The victory was a breath of fresh air for the Tigers as it put an end to their three-game losing streak.

Ellie Pettit spent all 13 innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered two runs (both of which were unearned) on nine hits and racked up 16 Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in 13 consecutive appearances.

On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Gracie Abercrombie, who went 4-for-6 with one home run and two stolen bases. Those two stolen bases gave her a new career-high. Raelyn Henderson was another key player, getting on base in five of her seven plate appearances with two stolen bases and one run.

Strafford's defeat dropped their record down to 11-17. As for Stockton, their win bumped their record up to 15-6.

Friday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Strafford hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .325. However, it's not like Stockton struggles in that department as they've averaged .326. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other softball content.