Abingdon is on a 14-game streak of home wins, while Rustburg is on a four-game streak of away wins: one of those streaks is about to end. The Falcons will host the Red Devils at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Abingdon 2.6, Rustburg 1.4) so any runs scored will be well earned.
Abingdon is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Thursday. They put the hurt on Staunton River with a sharp 12-5 victory. Considering the Falcons have won 18 games by more than five runs this season, Thursday's blowout was nothing new.
Ada Gillenwater made a splash no matter where she played. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run over four innings pitched. Gillenwater was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-4 with one run, one double, and one RBI.
In other pitching news, Chloe Thomas looked comfortable as she pitched three innings while giving up just one earned (and three unearned) runs off three hits. She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks in eight consecutive appearances.
Back at the plate, Scout Summitt and Mariah Branscomb did most of the damage at the plate: Summitt went 3-for-4 with four RBI, two runs, and two doubles, while Branscomb went 3-for-4 with one home run, three runs, and one double. That's the most hits Branscomb has posted since back in April. Capri Firtz was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two runs and one RBI.
Abingdon was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .394. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .394 or higher in three consecutive matchups.
Meanwhile, after a string of nine wins, Rustburg's good fortune finally ran out on Thursday. They wound up with the same score they had in their last game (2-1), but sadly the team found themselves on the wrong side of the score this time.
Abingdon's win bumped their record up to 27-0. As for Rustburg, their loss dropped their record down to 19-6.
Abingdon came out on top in a nail-biter against Rustburg in their previous meeting back in May of 2016, sneaking past 1-0. Do the Falcons have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Red Devils turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
