The Villages Charter hasn't had much luck against Eustis recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. The Buffalo will face off against the Panthers at 7:00 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
The Villages Charter is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Tuesday. They never let South Sumter get on the board and left with a 7-0 victory. The game was the first time the Buffalo have beaten the Raiders on their field since March 14, 2024.
The result came thanks to Emily Thompson's shutout, as she gave up just four hits and racked up 15 Ks.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Lexy Sanchez, who went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in February. Another player making a difference was Zoey Schutt, who got on base in three of her four plate appearances with two runs.
Meanwhile, Eustis had already won six in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 7.2 runs) and they went ahead and made it seven on Tuesday. They were the clear victors by a 10-0 margin over the Hurricanes.
Carson Roden tossed a big game, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only one hit while striking out 14 over six innings pitched. She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Emmy Luke was incredible, going 3-for-4 with three RBI, one triple, and one run. That triple marked the first that she has hit this season. Brooklyn Powhida was another key player, going 1-for-3 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one RBI.
Eustis kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in seven consecutive contests.
The Villages Charter has been performing well recently as they've won four of their last five matchups. That's provided a nice bump to their 13-9 record this season. Those wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 6.8 runs over those games. As for Eustis, their record now sits at 18-4.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Thursday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. The Villages Charter has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 8.3 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Eustis struggles in that department as they've been averaging 7 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
