Softball Game Preview: Southwest Onslow Stallions vs. East Duplin Panthers

Southwest Onslow is 0-10 against East Duplin since February of 2018 but things could change on Friday. Southwest Onslow will host East Duplin at 6:00 p.m. The two teams are strolling into their matches after big wins in their previous games.

Southwest Onslow is headed in fresh off scoring the most runs they have all season. They blew past Northside - Jacksonville 21-4 on Wednesday. The victory continues a trend for the Stallions in their matchups with the Monarchs: they've now won eight in a row.

Whitney Grissett made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out ten over five innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks any time she's pitched this season. She was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs and stealing a base while getting on base in four of her five plate appearances.

In other batting news, Southwest Onslow let Haylie Anderson and Lilian Paradysz run wild. Anderson scored four runs and stole two bases while getting on base in three of her five plate appearances, while Paradysz scored two runs and stole two bases while going 2-for-5. That's the most stolen bases Paradysz has posted since back in February of 2024. The team also got some help courtesy of Kennedy Grooms, who scored two runs while getting on base in two of her three plate appearances.

Southwest Onslow always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .556. They are 2-1 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.

Meanwhile, East Duplin entered their tilt with James Kenan on Tuesday with two consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with three. They put the hurt on the Tigers with a sharp 11-5 win. The result was nothing new for the Panthers, who have now won five games by six runs or more so far this season.

Southwest Onslow's victory bumped their record up to 4-7. As for East Duplin, their win bumped their record up to 6-4.

Southwest Onslow suffered a grim 14-4 defeat to East Duplin when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Can Southwest Onslow avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.