Duluth hasn't had much luck against Mill Creek recently, but that could start to change on Tuesday. The Wildcats are taking a road trip to face off against the Hawks at 6:00 p.m. Both come into the matchup bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Duluth was handed an 11-run defeat in their previous outing, but that didn't affect their clutch gene on Thursday. They narrowly escaped with a win as the squad sidled past Norcross 9-7. The victory was some much needed relief for the Wildcats as it spelled an end to their three-game losing streak.
Kaylie Zirger
| 10/02/25 vs Norcross | 9 |
| 09/25/25 vs Parkview | 4 |
| 09/23/25 @ Peachtree Ridge | 3 |
| 09/22/25 @ Lanier | 6 |
| 09/18/25 @ North Gwinnett | 0 |
| + 4 more games |
Kaylie Zirger was a major factor no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out nine batters over 3.2 innings while giving up no earned runs or hits (and not a single walk). That's the most strikeouts she has posted since back in September. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. That home run was her first of the season.
In other batting news, Saniya Simmons was excellent, going 2-for-3 with two runs, one triple, and one RBI. Another player making a difference was Kate Camarena, who went 1-for-3 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI.
Duluth kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 14 hits. That's a new trend for them: they were averaging 5.4 hits per game earlier this season, but in their last 15 contests they've averaged 11.6.
Meanwhile, it was a Battle of the Birds when Mill Creek faced off against Collins Hill on Thursday. The Hawks' pitcher stepped up to hand the Eagles an 8-0 shutout. The result was nothing new for the Hawks, who have now won 11 games by seven runs or more so far this season.
Like Duluth, Mill Creek also got a great game from a two-way player: Addison Ursetta. She didn't allow a single earned run while striking out six over seven innings pitched. Ursetta was also solid in the batter's box, going 3-for-4 with three RBI and one double.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Blair McClain, who went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases and three runs. Ellie Kava was another key player, earning two runs and two stolen bases.
Duluth's record is now 11-12. As for Mill Creek, their record now sits at 15-9.
Tuesday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Duluth hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .316. However, it's not like Mill Creek struggles in that department as they've averaged .335. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Duluth suffered a grim 9-0 defeat to Mill Creek when the teams last played back in September of 2023. Can the Wildcats avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
