The Polytech Panthers will take on the Sussex Tech Ravens at 4:15 p.m. on Thursday. Polytech is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.9 runs per game this season.
Polytech is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Delaware's top teams: Cape Henlopen, who was ranked 18th at the time (Polytech was ranked seventh). The Panthers never let Cape Henlopen get on the board and left with an 11-0 victory on Tuesday. The win was nothing new for the Panthers as they're now sitting on three straight.
Tenley Lord made a splash while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run over six innings pitched. She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks in six consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 3-for-4 with one home run. That's the most hits she has posted since back in April.
In other batting news, Danica Humphries was incredible, going 4-for-5 with three RBI, two doubles, and one run. That's the most hits she has posted since back in April. Emma Shelton was another key player, going 3-for-5 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one double.
Polytech was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .417. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .357 or higher in three consecutive matchups.
Meanwhile, Sussex Tech unfortunately witnessed the end of their 12-game winning streak on Tuesday. They fell just short of Sussex Central by a score of 3-2.
Sussex Tech saw two different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Aleandra Bennett, who went 1-for-3 with two RBI.
Sussex Tech's defeat was their first in the league, dropping their league record down to 5-1 and their overall record down to 12-2. As for Polytech, their victory bumped their record up to 15-5.
Fans could be in store for some top-tier slugging on Thursday. Polytech hasn't had any problems when it comes to power this season, having averaged 0.6 home runs per game. However, it's not like Sussex Tech struggles in that department as they've been averaging 0.5 home runs. With so much power on both teams, it'll be down to the pitchers to keep the mound locked down.
Polytech skirted past Sussex Tech 11-9 in their previous meeting back in March of 2025. Do the Panthers have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Ravens turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
