Softball Preview: Dudley Panthers vs. Atkins Camels
The Dudley Panthers will look to defend their home field on Friday against the Atkins Camels at 6:00 p.m. Dudley will come in still looking for their first win of the season.
Friday just wasn't the day for Dudley's offense. They suffered a rough 15-0 defeat at the hands of Eastern Guilford on Friday.
Atkins never got on the board in their matchup back in March, but that sure wasn't the case in their game against Ben L. Smith on Tuesday. They were the clear victor by a 17-1 margin over the Golden Eagles. The win was a breath of fresh air for Atkins as it put an end to their three-game losing streak.
Alexandria Austin made a splash while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out eight batters over three innings while giving up just one earned run off two hits. Austin was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs and stealing three bases while getting on base in all three of her plate appearances.
In other batting news, Atkins got a massive performance out of Janae Russell, who scored three runs and stole three bases while getting on base in all three of her plate appearances. Another player making a difference was Alejandra Scruggs, who scored two runs and stole four bases while going 1-for-2.
Dudley's loss dropped their record down to 0-6. As for Atkins, their victory ended a three-game drought on the road and puts them at 3-7.
Friday's match might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Dudley has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .453. However, it's not like Atkins struggles in that department as they've averaged .482. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Dudley suffered a grim 18-4 defeat to Atkins when the teams last played back in March of 2023. Will Dudley have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
