The Lancaster Bruins will challenge the Camden Bulldogs at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday. The squads are rolling into the game with opposing streaks: Lancaster has struggled recently with five defeats in a row, while Camden will arrive with four straight wins.
On Wednesday, Lancaster didn't have quite enough to beat Buford and fell 5-3.
Samaria Jackson was cooking despite her team's loss, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one stolen base and one double. Olyanna Wheeler was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 1-for-3.
While Camden didn't have the best season last year (they finished 9-11), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. They walked away with an 11-6 victory over Lancaster on Tuesday.
Maddie Stokes made a big impact no matter where she played. She pitched seven innings while giving up just two earned (and four unearned) runs off ten hits. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run while going 2-for-3.
In other batting news, Jayden Kennedy was a standout: she scored two runs while going 2-for-4. She also hit a double, marking her first of the season. Another player making a difference was Haydin Williams, who scored three runs while getting on base in four of her five plate appearances.
Camden hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. The team has now struck out at least five strikeouts batters in four consecutive matches.
Camden's win bumped their record up to 6-4. As for Lancaster, they now have a losing record of 6-7.
Lancaster's speedy runners might be the difference in Thursday's game. The Bruins have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.1 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Camden, though, as they've been averaging only 0.2 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Lancaster continue to outrun the ball?
Lancaster couldn't quite get it done against Camden in their previous matchup on Tuesday as they fell 11-6. Will the Bruins have more luck at home instead of on the road? Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other softball content.
