The Griffith Panthers will venture away from home to face off against the Knox Redskins at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. Griffith knows how to get runs on the board -- the squad has finished with ten runs or more in their past three contests -- so hopefully Knox likes a good challenge.
It was a proper cat-fight when Griffith faced off against Wheeler on Tuesday. The Panthers walked away with a 10-7 win over the Bearcats. The game was the first time the Panthers have beaten the Bearcats on their field since May 1, 2018.
Cheyanne Fant spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered four earned (and three unearned) runs on ten hits and racked up six Ks.
Natalie Vianello
| 04/15/25 @ Wheeler | 4 |
| 04/14/25 vs River Forest | 2 |
| 05/20/24 vs River Forest | 2 |
| 05/09/24 vs Hammond | 1 |
| 04/15/24 vs Calumet New Tech | 1 |
On the hitting side, Griffith let Natalie Vianello and Brylie Bridges run wild. Vianello went 3-for-4 with one home run, four RBI, and two runs, while Bridges went 2-for-4 with one home run, five RBI, and two runs. Those four RBI gave Vianello a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Laney Poppa, who went 2-for-4 with three runs and one double.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Griffith kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least 11 hits every time they've taken the field this season.
Meanwhile, Knox suffered their biggest defeat since April 18, 2024 on Friday. They lost 18-10 to Valparaiso.
Addison Sponaugle made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, four runs, and three RBI. That home run was her first of the season. Karleigh Friedrich was another key player, going 3-for-4 with two runs, two doubles, and one RBI.
Griffith's victory bumped their record up to 3-0. As for Knox, their loss dropped their record down to 3-2.
Knox's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Griffith has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 11.7 hits per game. It's a different story for Knox, though, as they've been averaging 9.4 hits. Given Griffith's sizable advantage in that area, the Redskins will need to find a way to close that gap. Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
