Rochester has won four straight games at home, while Whitko has won four straight on the road, but those streaks won't matter much on Monday. The Zebras will host the Wildcats at 5:30 p.m. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Rochester 4, Whitko 3.6) so any runs scored will be well earned.
On Wednesday, Rochester got the win against Northwestern by a conclusive 13-1. The Zebras might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won ten games by six runs or more this season.
Bria Rensberger spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on seven hits.
On the hitting side, Aubrey Wilson and Aubrey Miller did most of the damage at the plate: Wilson went 2-for-4 with three RBI, two runs, and two doubles, while Miller got on base in three of her five plate appearances with four runs, two stolen bases, and one RBI. That's the most doubles Wilson has posted since back in March of 2024. Another player making a difference was Darah Strasser, who went 2-for-3 with three runs and one stolen base.
Meanwhile, Whitko had just enough and edged out Heritage 7-5 on Saturday. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Wildcats have posted against the Patriots since May 16, 2015.
Cassidy Skinner made a splash no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out seven batters over 6.2 innings while giving up just two earned (and three unearned) runs off eight hits. Skinner was even better at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one home run and two RBI.
In other batting news, Kaylee Adkins was incredible, going a perfect 2-for-2 with one home run and one double. Isabelle Harman was another key player, going 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, two RBI, and one double.
Whitko hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. The team has now struck out at least five batters in seven consecutive matchups.
Rochester has been performing incredibly well recently as they've won 13 of their last 14 contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 17-4 record this season. The wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.1 runs on average over those games. As for Whitko, their victory bumped their record up to 15-5.
Monday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Rochester has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .468. However, it's not like Whitko struggles in that department as they've averaged .440. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Rochester came out on top in a nail-biter against Whitko when the teams last played back in May of 2024, sneaking past 3-2. Will the Zebras repeat their success, or do the Wildcats have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
