The Elkhart Lions are taking a road trip to challenge the NorthWood Panthers at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
Elkhart had to skate by with only a one-run margin when they last took the field, which might have inspired the eight-run drubbing they dealt Goshen on Friday. The Lions were the clear victors by a 10-2 margin over the RedHawks. The victory continues a trend for the Lions in their matchups with the RedHawks: they've now won three in a row.
Anna Knight was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out seven batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned runs off five hits. That's the most strikeouts she has posted since back in May of 2024. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with three RBI and one double. That double was her first of the season.
Bailey Harris-Rogers
| 04/18/25 vs Goshen | 2 |
| 05/21/24 vs Warsaw | 1 |
| 05/04/24 @ Fort Wayne Northrop | 1 |
| 03/19/24 @ Fairfield | 1 |
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Bailey Harris-Rogers, who went a perfect 4-for-4 with two triples, two RBI, and one double. Those two triples gave her a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Ava Walker, who went 2-for-3 with three stolen bases and one run.
Elkhart always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .562. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask NorthWood). They put the hurt on West Noble with a sharp 16-1 win on Monday. The team's explosion at the plate also rewarded the Panthers with their most commanding win of the season.
Ana Beachy made a splash no matter where she played. She didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits over five innings pitched. She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks any time she's pitched this season. She was also stellar in the batter's box, getting on base in three of her four plate appearances with one home run, three RBI, and two runs.
In other batting news, Payton Sears was incredible, going 3-for-4 with three runs, three RBI, and one stolen base. Taryn Marcum was another key player, going 2-for-4 with one triple, one run, and one RBI.
Elkhart's victory was their eighth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 5-2. The home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.3 runs on average over those games. As for NorthWood, they now have a winning record of 3-2.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Saturday as neither team is afraid to steal. Elkhart has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.9 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like NorthWood struggles in that department as they've been averaging 4.6 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Elkhart skirted past NorthWood 5-3 when the teams last played back in April of 2024. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Lions since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
