Softball Game Preview: Charleston Tigers vs. Elkins Elks

The Charleston Tigers will venture away from home to challenge the Elkins Elks at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.

Charleston barely beat Magazine the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Tigers put the hurt on the Rattlers with a sharp 11-3 victory on Monday. The Tigers haven't had any issues with the Rattlers recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive win against them.

Hannah Ward spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three runs (all of which were unearned) on four hits.

Gracie Smithson

Hits (Career)

04/21/25 vs Magazine	3
04/08/25 @ Cossatot River	2
03/21/25 vs Lavaca	2
03/11/25 @ Dardanelle	2
03/12/24 vs Cossatot River	2

At the plate, Ella Dodson and Gracie Smithson did most of the damage at the plate: Dodson went 1-for-3 with one home run, two runs, and one stolen base, while Smithson went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs. Those three hits gave Smithson a new career-high. Payton Klein also deserves some recognition as she snagged her first stolen base of the season.

Meanwhile, Elkins entered their tilt with Huntsville on Monday with four consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with five. They were the clear victors by a 21-3 margin over the Eagles. Give some credit to the fans of both teams: the last four times they've met, the home team has come away the winner.

Elkins pushed their record up to 14-8 with the victory, which was their fifth straight at home. The home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 12.6 runs over those games. As for Charleston, they now have a winning record of 9-8.

Charleston couldn't quite finish off Elkins in their previous matchup on Wednesday and fell 10-8. Can the Tigers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.