Hitchcock is 0-10 against East Bernard since March of 2019 but things could change on Friday. The Bulldogs are taking a road trip to challenge the Brahmas at 6:00 p.m.
Hitchcock is headed into Friday's match looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their third straight game on Tuesday. They came up short against Van Vleck, falling 20-1.
Hitchcock saw two different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was LesleyRose Batiste, who scored a run and stole two bases while going 1-for-1.
Meanwhile, East Bernard came tearing into Tuesday's contest with seven straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 10.3 runs), and they left with even more momentum. They never let the Bobcats get on the board and left with a 16-0 win. Give the Brahmas' pitching crew some credit: that's the team's third straight shutout.
Kylie Zarate and Rylie Holder were a major factor while hitting and pitching. Throwing, Zarate tossed one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. Meanwhile, Holder tossed three innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up a single earned run in 11 consecutive appearances. At the plate, Zarate went 1-for-3 with two runs, one triple, and one RBI, while Holder went 3-for-4 with one double and one RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Avery Kolb, who scored three runs and stole a base while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances. Those three runs gave her a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Abigail Garcia, who scored three runs while going 1-for-3.
East Bernard pushed their record up to 16-7 with the victory, which was their seventh straight on the road dating back to last season. Those road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.6 runs over those games. As for Hitchcock, their loss dropped their record down to 11-8.
Friday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Hitchcock has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .520. However, it's not like East Bernard struggles in that department as they've averaged .452. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Hitchcock might still be hurting after the 14-0 defeat they got from East Bernard when the teams last played two weeks ago. Can the Bulldogs avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
