The Shenandoah Raiders will square off against the Tri Titans at 5:00 p.m. on Monday. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Shenandoah 2.5, Tri 2.4) so any runs scored will be well earned.
Shenandoah's usually-dominant pitching crew will be looking to make up for Saturday's struggle, when Hagerstown hitters got past them. The Raiders came up short against the Tigers on Saturday, falling 11-0. The matchup marked the first time this year in which the Raiders were not able to get on the board.
Meanwhile, Tri came tearing into Friday's game with eight straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 9.3 runs), and they left with even more momentum. Everything went their way against the Golden Bears as they made off with a 17-6 victory. The result was nothing new for the Titans, who have now won eight contests by nine runs or more so far this season.
Ashton Richey was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out ten batters over seven innings while giving up three earned (and three unearned) runs off seven hits (and only one walk). She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two runs, one triple, and one RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Lyla Williams, who went 3-for-4 with three stolen bases, three runs, and three RBI. What's more, she posted two doubles, the most she's had since back in April of 2024. Another player making a difference was MacKenzie Laurie, who got on base in four of her five plate appearances with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI.
Tri always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .581. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Monroe Central only posted an OBP of .219.
Tri's win was their third straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 10-1. The road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 14.0 runs over those games. As for Shenandoah, their defeat dropped their record down to 6-2.
Monday's match will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Shenandoah hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .384. However, it's not like Tri struggles in that department as they've averaged .377. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Shenandoah was able to grind out a solid win over Tri in their previous meeting back in May of 2024, winning 8-5. Will the Raiders repeat their success, or do the Titans have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
