Softball Preview: Grand Island Islanders vs. Lincoln Northeast Rockets
Grand Island is 8-2 against Lincoln Northeast since September of 2020, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Thursday. The Grand Island Islanders will play host again on Thursday to welcome the Lincoln Northeast Rockets, where first pitch is scheduled.
Grand Island will head into Tuesday's contest hoping they have more luck than they did the last time they played Lincoln Southeast: Grand Island's last matchup with Lincoln Southeast could've gone either way, but unfortunately the same can't be said for the pair's matchup on Tuesday. Grand Island came up short against Lincoln Southeast, falling 11-1. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest loss the Islanders have suffered against the Knights since September 7, 2021.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Lincoln Northeast). They blew past Columbus 14-6 on Tuesday. The high-flying hitting performance was a huge turnaround for the Rockets considering their one-run performance the match before.
Lily McPike was a standout: she went 3-for-4 with three runs, four RBI, and a triple. The dominant performance gave her a new career- in hits. The team also got some help courtesy of Brynley Chairez, who scored two runs and stole two bases while going 3-for-3.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given the score, Lincoln Northeast was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .429. That's the best batting average they've posted all season.
Grand Island's defeat was their seventh straight at home dating back to last season, which dropped their record down to 2-13. As for Lincoln Northeast, their win ended a six-game drought on the road dating back to last season and puts them at 4-7.
Grand Island took their victory against Lincoln Northeast in their previous meeting back in September of 2023 by a conclusive 11-1. Does Grand Island have another victory up their sleeve, or will Lincoln Northeast turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
