Williamson is 0-8 against Athens since April of 2016 but things could change on Tuesday. The Warriors will take on the Wildcats at 4:30 p.m. Williamson is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.5 runs per game this season.
Williamson fell victim to Corning-Painted Post and their airtight pitching crew on Friday. They lost 12-0 to the Hawks. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest defeat the Warriors have suffered since May 14, 2024.
Williamson saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Alexis Sprague, who went 1-for-2 with one double.
Meanwhile, Athens put another one in the bag on Thursday to keep their perfect season alive. They blew past Sayre 11-1. The result was nothing new for the Wildcats, who have now won three contests by six runs or more so far this season.
Gretchan Hiley made a big impact no matter where she played. On the mound, she struck out 12 batters over five innings while giving up just one earned run off three hits (and only one walk). She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 3-for-4. That stolen base was her first of the season.
In other batting news, Athens let Memphis Paul and Anndrea Davis run wild. Paul scored three runs and stole a base while going 2-for-3, while Davis scored a run and stole a base while going 3-for-3. Paul also hit two doubles, marking her first of the season. Maddie Hiley was another key player, scoring two runs while going 2-for-3.
Athens kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least 11 hits in three consecutive matches.
Athens' victory was their sixth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 5-0. The home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.7 runs on average over those games. As for Williamson, this is the second loss in a row for them and nudges their season record down to 5-3.
Tuesday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Williamson hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .313. However, it's not like Athens struggles in that department as they've averaged .343. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Williamson couldn't quite finish off Athens in their previous matchup back in April of 2024 and fell 4-2. Can the Warriors avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
