Softball Game Preview: Pepin/Alma vs. Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran Lancers

Pepin/Alma are taking a road trip to challenge the Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran Lancers at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. The two teams are strolling into their matches after big wins in their previous games.

On Saturday, Pepin/Alma made easy work of Bangor and carried off an 8-1 victory. Considering Pepin/Alma has won eight games by more than five runs this season, Saturday's blowout was nothing new.

Meanwhile, Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran never let their opponents score on Tuesday. They were the clear victors by a 9-0 margin over Elmwood/Plum City. The win continues a trend for the Lancers in their matchups with the Wolves: they've now won three in a row.

Rachel Kazemba was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits over seven innings pitched. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than two walks in nine consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run.

In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Cheyenne Wales, who went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one double. That's the most stolen bases she has posted since back in May of 2024. Gabi Radichel was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two runs, one stolen base, and one RBI.

Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. That's the most hits they've managed all season.

The victory made it two in a row for Pepin/Alma and bumps their season record up to 11-8. Those wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.5 runs over those games. As for Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran, the victory got them back to even at 7-7.

Everything went Pepin/Alma's way against Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran in their previous meeting back in April, as Pepin/Alma made off with an 11-5 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for Pepin/Alma since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.