Softball Game Preview: Topsail Pirates vs. Dixon Bulldogs

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Previous Games

02/28/23 - Home	11-4 W
02/28/22 - Away	15-4 W
03/06/18 - Home	19-9 W
02/28/18 - Away	5-2 W
04/20/17 - Home	0-2 L
+ 2 more games

Topsail is 6-1 against Dixon since April of 2015 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Thursday. The Pirates will host the Bulldogs at 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday just wasn't the day for Topsail's offense. They lost 9-0 to Laney on Tuesday. Give some credit to the fans of both teams: the last four times they've met, the home team has come away the winner.

Meanwhile, Dixon came into Tuesday's game having lost five straight, but that streak is now in the rearview. They came out on top in a nail-biter against Swansboro on Tuesday, sneaking past 4-3. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Bulldogs have posted against the Pirates since April 11, 2017.

Kailei Dawsey made a splash while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out six batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off five hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in four consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run while going 1-for-3.

In other batting news, Aubrey Ray was excellent, going 1-for-3 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one double. Those two RBI gave her a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Lilly Keeling, who scored a run while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.

Topsail has traveled a rocky road recently, having lost six of their last seven matches. That's put a noticeable dent in their 4-6 record this season. As for Dixon, their win was their first in the conference, bumping their conference record up to 1-3 and their overall record up to 6-7.

Topsail took their victory against Dixon when the teams last played back in February of 2023 by a conclusive 11-4 score. Do the Pirates have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Bulldogs turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.