The Hanover-Horton Comets will head out on the road to challenge the Madison Trojans at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Hanover-Horton's pitching crew has only allowed 1.2 runs per game this season, so Madison's hitters will have their work cut out for them.
If Hanover-Horton beats Madison with 16 runs on Friday, it's going to be the squad's new lucky number: they've won their past two matchups with that exact score. The Comets didn't even let Vandercook Lake on the board on Wednesday, marking the Comets' second-straight 16-0 shutout. The Comets might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won nine games by eight runs or more this season.
Alexyn DuBois made a splash no matter where she played. On the mound, she struck out seven batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit (and not a single walk). She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up a single earned run any time she's pitched this season. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-2 with two runs and one RBI.
In other batting news, Halle Swihart was a standout: she went a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, four RBI, and one double. Another player making a difference was Ava Smith, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with two stolen bases, two runs, and two doubles.
Hanover-Horton always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .818. The last time their OBP was this high was was before the start of last season.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Madison, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Monday. They narrowly escaped with a win as the team sidled past Summerfield 7-6. The Trojans haven't had any issues with the Bulldogs recently, as the game was their third consecutive victory against them.
Olivia Schmitz spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned (and four unearned) runs on ten hits.
At the plate, Madison let Kendall Gilbertson and Mya Solis run wild. Gilbertson went 2-for-4 with three RBI, one stolen base, and one run, while Solis went 3-for-4 with three runs, one stolen base, and one double. The team also got some help courtesy of Kalexiana Wrest, who went 1-for-4 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run.
Hanover-Horton's win was their seventh straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 11-2. The home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 12.3 runs over those games. As for Madison, their record is now 9-3.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Friday as neither team is afraid to steal. Hanover-Horton has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 4 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Madison struggles in that department as they've been averaging 2.7 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
