Softball Game Preview: Gowanda Panthers vs. Westfield Wolverines

The Gowanda Panthers will face off against the Westfield Wolverines at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday. Both come into the match bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

If Gowanda beats Westfield with seven runs on Saturday, it's going to be the squad's new lucky number: they've won their past two contests with that exact score. The Panthers narrowly escaped with a win as the team sidled past Randolph 7-6. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Panthers.

Meanwhile, Westfield waltzed into their game on Friday with two straight wins... but they left with three. They never let the Cougars get on the board and left with an 11-0 victory. That's two games straight that the Wolverines have won by exactly 11 runs.

Eva Gnadzinski was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run over six innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one earned run in five consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. What's more, she posted two doubles, the most she's had since back in April.

In other batting news, Mackenzie Schumaker was a standout: she went 2-for-4 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI. That home run was her first of the season. Sydney Hotchkiss was another key player, going 2-for-4 with three runs, one triple, and one RBI.

Westfield was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .448. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Cassadaga Valley only posted a batting average of .143.

Westfield's win bumped their record up to 8-5. As for Gowanda, their victory bumped their record up to 9-6.

Gowanda skirted past Westfield 12-11 in their previous meeting back in April of 2024. Do the Panthers have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Wolverines turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.