The Firelands Falcons will take on the Wellington Dukes at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Firelands is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 10.8 runs per game this season.
Firelands is headed in fresh off scoring the most runs they have all season. They blew past Oberlin 30-1 on Monday. The Falcons have beaten the Phoenix the last three times they've met, but they better watch out: this was the closest the Phoenix has come to flipping the script.
Sarah Blankenship and Jeanette Crawford were a major factor while hitting and pitching. Throwing, Blankenship pitched three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Meanwhile, Crawford tossed two innings while giving up just one earned run off one hit. Blankenship has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances. At the plate, Blankenship scored three runs and stole six bases while getting on base in five of her six plate appearances, while Crawford scored a run and stole a base while getting on base in all five of her plate appearances. Those six stolen bases gave Blankenship a new career-high.
Mckenzie Janosik
| 04/14/25 @ Oberlin | 9 |
| 04/20/24 vs Open Door Christian | 3 |
| 04/04/24 @ Clearview | 3 |
| 03/29/25 vs Edison | 2 |
| 05/10/24 vs Bay | 2 |
In other batting news, Firelands let Mckenzie Janosik and Aubrynn Reichle run wild. Janosik scored six runs and stole nine bases while getting on base in all six of her plate appearances, while Reichle scored six runs and stole ten bases while getting on base in five of her six plate appearances. Those nine stolen bases gave Janosik a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Kylie Sutorius, who scored two runs and stole three bases while going 3-for-4.
Firelands always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .800. They are a perfect 3-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Meanwhile, Wellington lost 17-5 to Columbia on Monday. The Dukes have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Mallory Pickering put in work no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out ten batters over five innings while giving up five earned (and four unearned) runs off nine hits (and only one walk). Pickering was also stellar in the batter's box, going 1-for-2 with one home run and two runs.
Pickering wasn't the only one making solid contact as six players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Danica Borzy, who scored a run while going 2-for-3.
Firelands' win bumped their record up to 3-5. As for Wellington, they now have a losing record of 3-4.
Tuesday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Firelands has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .489. However, it's not like Wellington struggles in that department as they've averaged .456. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Firelands skirted past Wellington 6-5 when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Do the Falcons have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Dukes turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
