The Alexander Cougars will face off against the Westlake Lions at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Westlake will challenge a team with plenty of momentum: Alexander extended their winning streak to 13 on Tuesday. The Cougars never let Lithia Springs get on the board and left with an 18-0 win.
Erin Vineyard was a major factor no matter where she played. On the mound, she pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Vineyard was also stellar in the batter's box, going a perfect 2-for-2 with four RBI, one stolen base, and one run. That's the most RBI she has posted over her last nine contests.
In other batting news, Alexis May was a standout: she went 2-for-3 with three RBI, two runs, and two doubles. Those two doubles gave her a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Kenzie Townsend, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with three runs, one stolen base, and one double.
Alexander hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Lithia Springs struck out six times.
Meanwhile, Westlake got the win against Tri-Cities on Wednesday by a conclusive 9-1. That's two games straight that the Lions have won by exactly eight runs.
Like Alexander, Westlake also got a great game from a two-way player: Lauryn Chapman. She looked comfortable on the mound, tossing three innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. Chapman has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going a perfect 2-for-2 with three stolen bases, two runs, and one RBI. With that strong performance, she is now averaging an impressive 1.1 stolen bases per game.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Tionna Edwards, who went 1-for-2 with three stolen bases and two runs. She is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as she's now snagged at least one in each of the last three games she's played. Ava Flowers was another key player, going 1-for-3 with one home run and two RBI.
Alexander's victory bumped their record up to 22-2. As for Westlake, their win bumped their record up to 10-6-1.
Thursday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Alexander hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .359. However, it's not like Westlake struggles in that department as they've averaged .450. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
