Norton and Springfield are an even 3-3 against one another since May of 2022, but likely not for long. The Panthers will take on the Spartans at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Springfield took a loss in their last matchup and will be looking to turn the tables on Norton, who comes in off a win.
Norton will roll into the contest after a wild two-game stretch: they only put up one run on Saturday, then bounced right back against Coventry on Monday. The Panthers walked away with a 14-9 victory over the Comets. With that win, the Panthers brought their scoring average up to 6.8 runs per game.
Alyssa Messer
| 04/14/25 vs Coventry | 1 |
| 04/12/25 vs Mogadore | 2 |
| 04/11/25 vs Rittman | 0 |
Alyssa Messer made a big impact no matter where she played. She pitched five innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off five hits. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, scoring three runs while getting on base in two of her five plate appearances.
In other batting news, Norton let Chloe Womble and Addison Calo run wild. Womble went 2-for-3 with five RBI and one double, while Calo went 3-for-5 with four RBI and two runs. Jenna Ford also deserves some recognition as she hit her first double of the season.
Norton kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. They are a perfect 3-0 when they post 11 or more hits.
Meanwhile, Springfield fought the good fight in their extra-innings game against Woodridge on Monday but wound up with a less-than-desirable result. They fell just short of the Bulldogs by a score of 8-7. The Spartans have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Joey Klein spent all 8.2 innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered five earned (and three unearned) runs on 11 hits and racked up 11 Ks.
At the plate, Bre Ruggiero was cooking despite her team's loss, going 3-for-5 with two triples and three runs. The team also got some help courtesy of Izzy Potter, who scored a run while going 2-for-4.
Norton is on a roll lately: they've won three of their last four matchups. That's provided a massive bump to their 3-3 record this season. Those victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.0 runs over those games. As for Springfield, they suffered their first road loss, dropping their record down to 5-4.
Norton suffered a grim 14-4 defeat to Springfield in their previous meeting back in May of 2024. Can the Panthers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
