Softball Game Preview: Hatley Tigers vs. Vardaman Rams

The Hatley Tigers will square off against the Vardaman Rams at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Hatley is coming into the game hot, having won their last seven games.

If Hatley beats Vardaman with one run on Friday, it's going to be the team's new lucky number: they've won their past two contests with that exact score. The Tigers didn't even let Potts Camp on the board on Tuesday, marking the Tigers' second-straight 1-0 shutout.

The result came thanks to Ashlynn Dabbs's shutout, as she gave up just a hit and racked up 12 Ks. She has been consistent : she hasn't given up more than two walks in eight consecutive appearances.

On the hitting side, Hatley's victory was truly a team effort as three different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Kinsley Echols, who scored a run while going 2-for-3.

Hatley hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Potts Camp struck out 12 times.

Meanwhile, Vardaman came up short against West Union on Wednesday and fell 9-4. The Rams have struggled against the Eagles recently, as the game was their sixth consecutive lost meeting.

Hatley's win was their third straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 13-5. They've had to fight for that success though, as they only beat their opponents by an average of 1.33 runs across that stretch. As for Vardaman, their loss dropped their record down to 13-7.

Hatley took their victory against Vardaman in their previous matchup back in February by a conclusive 16-0 score. Do the Tigers have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Rams turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.