Pilgrim is a perfect 9-0 against Smithfield since April of 2017 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Tuesday. The Patriots will welcome the Sentinels at 5:00 p.m. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Pilgrim 3, Smithfield 3.2) so any runs scored will be well earned.
Pilgrim is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Rhode Island's top teams: Cumberland, who was ranked 23rd at the time (Pilgrim was ranked second). The Patriots put the hurt on the Clippers with a sharp 14-2 victory on Wednesday. Considering the Patriots have won four matchups by more than seven runs this season, Wednesday's blowout was nothing new.
Gretchen Dombeck spent all five innings played on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned (and one unearned) run on three hits.
Marin Prest
| 04/30/25 @ Cumberland | 2 |
| 04/11/25 @ Toll Gate | 1 |
| 05/09/24 @ Chariho | 1 |
| 04/11/24 @ Moses Brown | 1 |
At the plate, Marin Prest was incredible, firing off two home runs, seven RBI, and three runs while going 3-for-3. Those two home runs gave her a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Carli Harker, who went 3-for-4 with three runs and one stolen base.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Pilgrim kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their hit total in three consecutive contests.
Meanwhile, Smithfield fell victim to Chariho and their airtight pitching crew on Wednesday. They came up short against the Chargers, falling 9-0. Having soared to a lofty 15 runs in the game before, the Sentinels' shutout was a dramatic turnaround.
Pilgrim's win bumped their record up to 11-1. As for Smithfield, the defeat snapped their winning streak at three games and leaves them with a 6-3 record.
Pilgrim's speedy runners might be the difference in Tuesday's game. The Patriots have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.1 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Smithfield, though, as they've been averaging only 1.1 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Pilgrim continue to outrun the ball?
Everything went Pilgrim's way against Smithfield in their previous matchup back in May of 2024, as Pilgrim made off with a 10-0 victory. Do the Patriots have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Sentinels turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
