Softball Game Preview: Smithville Tigers vs. Giddings Buffaloes

vs

Previous Games

04/01/24 - Home	12-2 W
03/12/24 - Away	10-5 W
04/04/23 - Away	12-3 W
03/14/23 - Home	9-0 W
04/22/22 - Home	6-1 W
+ 5 more games

Smithville is 8-2 against Giddings since March of 2019 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Friday. The Smithville Tigers will be playing in front of their home fans against the Giddings Buffaloes at 6:00 p.m. Smithville's pitching crew has only allowed 1.9 runs per game this season, so Giddings' hitters will have their work cut out for them.

Smithville hadn't beaten La Grange on the road since April 20, 2021 but that history sure didn't bother them on Tuesday. Smithville narrowly escaped with a win as the team sidled past La Grange 4-3.

Jessica Hinnant was a major factor no matter where she played. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out 12 over seven innings pitched. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than two walks in 14 consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run and stealing Two bases. while going 3-for-4. The dominant performance gave her a new career-high in stolen bases.

Hinnant wasn't the only one making solid contact as two players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Addison Otto, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 3-for-4. What's more, Otto posted two doubles, the most she's had over her last 12 games.

Meanwhile, Giddings entered their tilt with Navasota on Tuesday with two consecutive wins , and they'll enter their next game with three. They came out on top against the Rattlers by a score of 8-5. The game was the first time the Buffaloes have beaten the Rattlers on their field since April 6, 2018.

Smithville has been performing well recently as they've won 11 of their last 14 contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 14-5-1 record this season. Those victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.6 runs on average over those games. Giddings pushed their record up to 8-5 with the victory, which was their fifth straight on the road.

Everything went Smithville's way against Giddings in their previous matchup back in April of 2024, as Smithville made off with a 12-2 win. Will Smithville repeat their success, or does Giddings have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.