The Stockton Tigers are taking a road trip to challenge the Strafford Indians at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. The last three games Stockton has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.
Stockton is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Missouri's top teams: Buffalo, who was ranked tenth at the time (Stockton was ranked 11th). The Tigers came out on top against the Bison on Thursday by a score of 3-2 (the very same score they lost by in their prior game). For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Tigers have posted since March 25th.
Ellie Pettit spent all 13 innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered two runs (both of which were unearned) on nine hits and racked up 16 Ks. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than two walks in 13 consecutive appearances.
Gracie Abercrombie
| 05/01/25 vs Buffalo | 4 |
| 04/15/25 @ Sarcoxie | 3 |
| 04/11/25 @ Pierce City | 3 |
| 04/10/25 @ Ash Grove | 3 |
| 04/08/25 vs Diamond | 3 |
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Gracie Abercrombie, who went 4-for-6 with one home run and two stolen bases. Those four hits gave her a new career-high. Nataleigh Brummett also deserves some recognition as she hit her first triple of the season.
Meanwhile, Strafford scored first but ultimately less than Lamar in their matchup on Thursday. They fell just short of the Tigers by a score of 8-7. The Indians have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Dalyce Scrivener made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went 1-for-4 with one home run, two runs, and one stolen base. The team also got some help courtesy of Kaelyn Rhodes, who went 3-for-4 with three runs and one double.
Strafford's defeat dropped their record down to 11-17. As for Stockton, the victory snapped their losing streak at three games and leaves them with a 15-6 record.
Friday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Stockton hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .326. However, it's not like Strafford struggles in that department as they've averaged .325. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Stockton skirted past Strafford 11-10 in their previous meeting back in March. Do the Tigers have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Indians turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
