Mountain Grove is 0-5 against Ava since April of 2023 but things could change on Monday. The Panthers will be playing in front of their home fans against the Bears at 4:30 p.m. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
Mountain Grove will bounce into Monday's match after beating Houston, who they had gone 0-4 against in their four prior meetings. The Panthers came out on top against the Tigers by a score of 12-7 on Thursday. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Panthers.
Hannah Dowden
| 04/10/25 @ Houston | 2 |
| 04/08/25 @ Van Buren | 0 |
| 04/07/25 vs Thayer | 1 |
| 03/31/25 vs Alton | 2 |
| 03/25/25 vs Eminence | 2 |
Hannah Dowden spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned (and six unearned) runs on four hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks any time she's pitched this season.
At the plate, Mountain Grove got a massive performance out of Gabby Miller, who scored a run and stole a base while going 2-for-4. Miller also put up two doubles, which were her first of the season. Another player making a difference was Chloe Slagle, who went 1-for-4 with one home run, three runs, and two RBI.
Miller wasn't the only one making solid contact: Mountain Grove kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. That's the most hits they've managed all season.
Meanwhile, Ava waltzed into their game on Thursday with seven straight wins... but they left with eight. They put the hurt on the Eagles with a sharp 12-1 victory. The result was nothing new for the Bears, who have now won six contests by nine runs or more so far this season.
Hannah Forrest was incredible, getting on base in all four of her plate appearances with three runs, one triple, and two RBI. The team also got some help courtesy of Autumn Cudworth, who scored three runs while going 1-for-3.
Ava's win was their eighth straight on the road dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 8-2. The road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 11.1 runs over those games. As for Mountain Grove, they now have a winning record of 4-3.
Mountain Grove suffered a grim 11-1 defeat to Ava in their previous matchup back in May of 2024. Will the Panthers 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.
