Viera and Melbourne are an even 5-5 against one another since May of 2021, but likely not for long. The Hawks will face off against the Bulldogs at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. The two teams each escaped (but just barely!) with wins against their previous opponents.
Viera is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Tuesday. They came out on top in a nail-biter against Davenport, sneaking past 4-3. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Hawks.
Isabella Kapatoes
| 02/20/25 @ Melbourne | 1 |
| 03/13/25 vs Palm Bay | 1 |
| 03/26/25 @ Satellite | 1 |
| 04/03/25 vs Montverde Academy | 1 |
| 04/04/25 vs Oakleaf | 1 |
Isabella Kapatoes spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned (and one unearned) runs on seven hits and racked up 12 Ks. Those 12 strikeouts set a new season-high mark for her.
On the hitting side, Tori Berry was incredible, going 2-for-3 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI.
Meanwhile, Melbourne came tearing into Tuesday's contest with four straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 4.3 runs), and they left with even more momentum. They came within a single run of losing the streak, but they secured a 6-5 W against the Kowboys.
Melbourne also let their pitcher toss all eight innings and she was also dialed-in: Brooklynn Steidl gave up just two earned (and two unearned) runs on nine hits and racked up seven Ks.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Layna Ayala, who went 2-for-3 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI. Another player making a difference was Brookelynn Dolin, who got on base in three of her four plate appearances with one run.
Melbourne's victory bumped their record up to 14-12. As for Viera, their win bumped their record up to 16-9.
Thursday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Viera has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .433. However, it's not like Melbourne struggles in that department as they've averaged .433. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Viera was able to grind out a solid victory over Melbourne when the teams last played back in March, winning 8-5. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Hawks since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
