Softball Game Preview: Tabernacle Torches vs. Tuscaloosa Christian Warriors

The Tabernacle Torches will venture away from home to challenge the Tuscaloosa Christian Warriors at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Tabernacle knows how to get runs on the board -- the team has finished with ten runs or more in their past three contests -- so hopefully Tuscaloosa Christian likes a good challenge.

Tabernacle had to skate by with only a one-run margin when they last took the field, which might have inspired the 13-run drubbing they dealt Trinity Christian on Thursday. The Torches were the clear victors by a 16-3 margin over the Tigers. The Torches haven't had any issues with the Tigers recently, as the game was their sixth consecutive victory against them.

Meanwhile, Tuscaloosa Christian didn't have quite enough to beat Tuscaloosa Home Educators on Friday and fell 5-4. Tuscaloosa Christian has now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.

Olivia Fondren put in work no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out eight batters over seven innings while giving up just one earned (and four unearned) runs off five hits. Fondren was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with one stolen base and one RBI.

Fondren wasn't the only one making solid contact as six players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Allie McCrory, who scored a run and stole two bases while going 1-for-4. Madelyn Nelson also deserves some recognition as she snagged her first stolen base of the season.

Tabernacle's win was their fifth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 8-1. The road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 14.2 runs over those games. As for Tuscaloosa Christian, their loss dropped their record down to 3-6.

Tabernacle took their win against Tuscaloosa Christian when the teams last played back in March by a conclusive 19-8 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Torches since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.