Softball Game Preview: Lincoln Lions vs. Pickerington North Panthers

Lions

Runs

04/26/25 @ Olentangy	5
04/26/25 @ Westerville North	13
04/24/25 @ Grove City	5
04/23/25 vs Westerville Central	6
04/21/25 @ New Albany	15
+ 14 more games

Lincoln is 9-1 against Pickerington North since April of 2015 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Monday. The Lions will be playing in front of their home fans against the Panthers at 5:30 p.m. Lincoln is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.8 runs per game this season.

Lincoln is probably headed into the contest with a chip on their shoulder considering Olentangy just ended the team's seven-game winning streak on Saturday. They fell just short of the Braves by a score of 6-5.

Lincoln got a good showing from Ella Carlson, who tossed three innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. Carlson has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than one earned run in five consecutive appearances.

At the plate, Lauren Guthrie was cooking despite her team's loss, going 2-for-3 with two RBI and one double. The team also got some help courtesy of Sarah Kitsmiller, who went 1-for-3 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI.

Marysville hit Pickerington North with a four-run third inning on Saturday, which goes a long way in explaining the final result. The Panthers took a 7-2 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Monarchs. The Panthers have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.

Pickerington North saw four different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Maria Gent, who went 1-for-3 with one home run.

Lincoln's loss dropped their record down to 13-6. As for Pickerington North, their defeat dropped their record down to 6-12.

Pickerington North's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Lincoln has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 10.3 hits per game. It's a different story for Pickerington North, though, as they've been averaging 9.1 hits. Given Lincoln's sizable advantage in that area, the Panthers will need to find a way to close that gap.

Lincoln took their win against Pickerington North when the teams last played last Wednesday by a conclusive 12-4 score. Do the Lions have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Panthers turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.