The Pittsfield Saukees will challenge the Liberty Eagles at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The last four games Pittsfield has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.
Wednesday just wasn't the day for Pittsfield's offense. They fell just short of Beardstown by a score of 1-0 on Wednesday. Surprisingly, this marked the Saukees' fifth straight game in which the away team has come away the victor.
Lila Simon spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on five hits.
Meanwhile, Liberty entered their tilt with Mendon Unity on Friday with five consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with six. They put the hurt on the Mustangs with a sharp 16-5 win. The Eagles might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won nine games by seven runs or more this season.
Ava Heming made a big impact no matter where she played. She pitched five innings while giving up three earned (and two unearned) runs off six hits. What's more, she posted four strikeouts, the most she's had over her last five matchups. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs, three doubles, and one stolen base.
In other batting news, Liberty got a massive performance out of Riley Fessler, who went 2-for-3 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. That's the most runs Fessler has posted since back in March. Another player making a difference was Anna Dietrich, who went 2-for-3 with three runs, one stolen base, and one double.
Liberty was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .483. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Mendon Unity only posted a batting average of .333.
Liberty pushed their record up to 16-4 with the victory, which was their fourth straight at home. The home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 12.3 runs over those games. As for Pittsfield, their loss dropped their record down to 12-4-1.
Tuesday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Pittsfield has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .455. However, it's not like Liberty struggles in that department as they've averaged .461. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Pittsfield came out on top in a nail-biter against Liberty when the teams last played back in May of 2024, sneaking past 9-8. Do the Saukees have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Eagles turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
