The McClain Tigers will head out on the road to take on the Clay Panthers at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. The teams are rolling into the game with opposing streaks: McClain has struggled recently with six defeats in a row, while Clay will arrive with five straight victories.
Last Wednesday, McClain came up short against Hillsboro and fell 10-7.
Kambriah Tomlin led a balanced group of hitters, going 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI. Another player making a difference was Leah Lovett, who went 1-for-3 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI.
Meanwhile, Clay never let their opponents score on Wednesday. They blew past Western 18-0. The result was nothing new for the Panthers, who have now won 12 contests by eight runs or more so far this season.
Elin Shaw was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out seven over five innings pitched. She has been consistent: she hasn't tossed less than seven strikeouts in seven consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going 1-for-3 with four runs, one triple, and one stolen base.
In other batting news, Alayna Shepherd was excellent, going a perfect 3-for-3 with four runs, five RBI, and two doubles. Those four runs gave her a new career-high. Heidi Smith was another key player, going 3-for-4 with four runs and two triples.
Clay's record now sits at 18-7. As for McClain, their loss dropped their record down to 7-12.
Friday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. McClain hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .382. However, it's not like Clay struggles in that department as they've averaged .327. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
