Softball Preview: Clinton Central Bulldogs vs. Tipton Blue Devils
After two games on the road, Clinton Central is heading back home. They will take on the Tipton Blue Devils at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Clinton Central knows how to get runs on the board -- the team has finished with flashy run totals in its past three games -- so hopefully Tipton likes a good challenge.
In what's become a running theme this season, Clinton Central gave their fans yet another huge win on Monday. They were the clear victor by a 14-2 margin over Tri-Central.
Landree Whiteman was a major factor no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and only two hits while striking out eight over five innings pitched. Whiteman has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in three consecutive pitching appearances. Whiteman was also stellar in the batter's box, scoring three runs while going 3-for-4.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Kortney Surber, who scored two runs while going 2-for-3. Emily Long was another key contributor, scoring three runs while going 2-for-4.
Meanwhile, Tipton came up short against Madison-Grant on Monday and fell 10-6. Tipton has struggled against Madison-Grant recently, as their contest on Monday was their third consecutive lost matchup.
Lacey Bitner and Isabella Browning stepped up to the plate in a big way. Bitner scored two runs while going 3-for-4, while Browning scored a run while going 3-for-4. Another player making a difference was Ella Lobeck, who scored two runs while going 2-for-3.
Clinton Central's victory bumped their record up to 9-4. As for Tipton, their loss dropped their record down to 5-10.
Tipton's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Clinton Central has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 9.7 hits per game. It's a different story for Tipton, though, as they've been averaging 11.4. Given Clinton Central's sizable advantage in that area, Tipton will need to find a way to close that gap.
Clinton Central was able to grind out a solid win over Tipton in their previous matchup back in May of 2023, winning 9-6. Will Clinton Central repeat their success, or does Tipton have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
