The Kewanee Boilermakers will challenge the Mercer County Golden Eagles at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. Both come into the matchup bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Kewanee took a loss when they played away from home on Monday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Thursday. They skirted past Princeton 5-3.
Kalleigh Gale made a big impact no matter where she played. She struck out eight batters over five innings while giving up three earned runs off seven hits (and only one walk). She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than one walk in 11 consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two doubles and one RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Addy Yepsen, who went 2-for-3 with one home run and two RBI. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in April. Another player making a difference was Rylee Blades, who went 1-for-3 with one home run.
Kewanee lost a few balls and finished the game with two home runs. That's the most home runs they've managed all season.
Meanwhile, Mercer County waltzed into their game on Thursday with three straight wins... but they left with four. They blew past the Titans 7-1. The result was nothing new for the Golden Eagles, who have now won ten contests by six runs or more so far this season.
Elsie Cook spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered a run (which was unearned) on two hits and racked up nine Ks.
On the hitting side, Jayden Weeks was incredible, going 2-for-3 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. Peyton Knapp was another key player, going 1-for-3 with one home run and two runs.
Kewanee's win was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 14-10. The home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 11.7 runs over those games. As for Mercer County, their win bumped their record up to 18-4.
Friday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Kewanee hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .369. However, it's not like Mercer County struggles in that department as they've averaged .354. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Kewanee couldn't quite get it done against Mercer County when the teams last played back in May of 2019 as they fell 3-0. Will the Boilermakers have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
