Softball Game Preview: Walnut Wildcats vs. Hamilton Lions

Wildcats

Runs

02/27/25 vs Pine Grove	12
02/25/25 @ Tishomingo County	2
02/22/25 @ Hickory Flat	20

Walnut is preparing for their first district matchup of the season on Tuesday. A feisty cat fight will be fought as the Wildcats take on the Lions at 6:30 p.m. Walnut is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.5 runs per game this season.

Walnut made up a huge gap compared to their last game against Pine Grove, but they still couldn't quite topple them. Walnut blew past Pine Grove 12-2 on Thursday. The high-flying hitting performance was a huge turnaround for the Wildcats considering their two-run performance the match before.

Brittan Dawkins made a splash while hitting and pitching. She pitched five innings while giving up just two earned runs off three hits. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than one walk any time she's pitched this season. She was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 2-for-2.

In other batting news, Baylee Spight and Maddie Wilburn did most of the damage at the plate: Spight scored three runs and stole a base while going 2-for-2, while Wilburn went a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBI, two runs, and one triple. What's more, Spight posted two hits, the most she's had since back in April of 2024. Another player making a difference was Addison Hicks, who went 1-for-3 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI.

Walnut always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .556. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Pine Grove only posted an OBP of .200.

The home team had come away the winner the last three times Hamilton and Amory had met, but sadly for the fans who attended this one that wasn't the case. Hamilton came out on top in a nail-biter against Amory on Friday, sneaking past 9-7. The win continues a trend for the Lions in their matchups with the Panthers: they've now won seven in a row.

The victory got Walnut back to even at 2-2. As for Hamilton, they now have a winning record of 4-3.

Walnut might still be hurting after the 13-1 defeat they got from Hamilton in their previous matchup back in April of 2024. Can Walnut avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.