The Sussex Tech Ravens are taking a road trip to challenge the Polytech Panthers at 4:15 p.m. on Thursday. Sussex Tech's pitching crew has only allowed 1.6 runs per game this season, so Polytech's hitters will have their work cut out for them.
Sussex Tech is probably headed into the contest with a chip on their shoulder considering Sussex Central just ended the team's 12-game winning streak on Tuesday. They fell just short of the Golden Knights by a score of 3-2.
Sussex Tech saw two different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Aleandra Bennett, who went 1-for-3 with two RBI.
Meanwhile, Polytech faced Cape Henlopen in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Tuesday. The Panthers put the hurt on Cape Henlopen with a sharp 11-0 victory. The Panthers might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won ten matchups by six runs or more this season.
Tenley Lord made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run over six innings pitched. She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks in six consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 3-for-4 with one home run. That's the most hits she has posted since back in April.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Danica Humphries, who went 4-for-5 with three RBI, two doubles, and one run. That's the most hits she has posted since back in April. The team also got some help courtesy of Emma Shelton, who went 3-for-5 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one double.
Polytech kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 15 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least ten hits in three consecutive games.
Polytech has been performing well recently as they've won five of their last six contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 15-5 record this season. The wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.7 runs over those games. As for Sussex Tech, their loss was their first in the league, dropping their league record down to 5-1 and their overall record down to 12-2.
Polytech's hitters will have their work cut out for them on Thursday. Sussex Tech has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 9 strikeouts per game. It's a different story for Polytech, though, as they've been averaging only 4 strikeouts. Will Sussex Tech keep running through batters, or will the Panthers buck the trend?
Sussex Tech couldn't quite finish off Polytech in their previous meeting back in March of 2025 and fell 11-9. Can the Ravens avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
