The Louisville Wildcats will square off against the North Pontotoc Vikings at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
It was a proper cat-fight when Louisville took on Starkville Christian on Monday. The Wildcats blew past the Cougars 20-10. The result was nothing new for the Wildcats, who have now won 12 matches by seven runs or more so far this season.
Sakenya Glenn and Sahayley Yarbrough did most of the damage at the plate: Glenn scored three runs and stole three bases while going 3-for-4, while Yarbrough scored three runs and stole two bases while going 3-for-4. That's the most hits Glenn has posted since back in March. Another player making a difference was Kaylee Parks, who scored two runs and stole two bases while going 3-for-4.
They weren't the only one making solid contact: Louisville kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 18 hits. That's the most hits they've managed all season.
Meanwhile, North Pontotoc entered their tilt with Myrtle on Tuesday with five consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with six. They came out on top against the Hawks by a score of 10-7.
Lacie Simmons was a standout: she scored two runs and stole a base while going 1-for-3. She is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as she's now snagged at least one in each of the last six games she's played. Sadie Rhea also deserves some recognition as she hit her first triple of the season.
North Pontotoc's win was their fifth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 15-8. Those road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.4 runs over those games. As for Louisville, the win was the third in a row for them, bringing their record up to 13-9-1.
Thursday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Louisville has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .666. However, it's not like North Pontotoc struggles in that department as they've averaged .506. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Louisville couldn't quite finish off North Pontotoc in their previous matchup back in April of 2015 and fell 6-4. Can the Wildcats avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
