Softball Game Preview: Gowanda Panthers vs. Silver Creek Black Knights

The Gowanda Panthers are taking a road trip to challenge the Silver Creek Black Knights at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Gowanda is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 10.1 runs per game this season.

Gowanda's pitching crew heads into the game hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Monday. They put the hurt on Brocton with a sharp 13-0 victory. The result was nothing new for the Panthers, who have now won six matchups by seven runs or more so far this season.

Addison Kota

Batters Struck Out

05/11/26 vs Brocton	9
05/09/26 vs Ellicottville	10
05/04/26 vs Pine Valley Central	7
04/28/26 vs Silver Creek	6
04/23/26 @ Brocton	8
04/21/26 vs Randolph	12

Addison Kota was a major factor no matter where she played. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out nine over five innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in six consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, firing off two home runs, seven RBI, and three runs while going 3-for-4. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in May of 2025.

Kota wasn't the only one making solid contact as seven players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Alayna Fish, who went 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI. Another was Biz John, who got on base in two of her three plate appearances with two runs.

Gowanda was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .483. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .323 or higher in five consecutive contests.

Meanwhile, Silver Creek entered their tilt with Forestville Central on Monday with two consecutive wins but they'll enter their next game with three. They came out on top in a nail-biter against the Hornets, sneaking past 6-4. That's two games straight that the Black Knights have won by exactly two runs.

Gowanda's record is now 8-6. As for Silver Creek, their record now sits at 7-2.

Gowanda couldn't quite finish off Silver Creek in their previous matchup two weeks ago and fell 12-10. Can the Panthers avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.