Softball Game Preview: Toledo Indians vs. Napavine Tigers

The Toledo Indians will head out to challenge the Napavine Tigers at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.

Toledo had to skate by with only a one-run margin when they last took the field, which might have inspired the 23-run drubbing they dealt Morton/White Pass on Monday. The Indians' pitchers stepped up to hand the Timberwolves a 23-0 shutout. The Indians have beaten the Timberwolves the last eight times they've met, but they better watch out: this was the closest the Timberwolves has come to flipping the script.

Meanwhile, it was a proper cat-fight when Napavine duked it out with Winlock on Monday. The Tigers were the clear victors by a 33-0 margin over the Cardinals. The Tigers' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.

Dakota Lyons was a major factor no matter where she played. On the mound, she kept things locked down with no earned runs or hits while striking out eight over five innings pitched. She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than one walk in eight consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, getting on base in six of her seven plate appearances with five runs and three RBI. What's more, she posted three hits, the most she's had since back in March.

In other batting news, Napavine let Taylen Evander and Tarynn Dalebout run wild. Evander got on base in four of her five plate appearances with four runs, four RBI, and one stolen base, while Dalebout went 3-for-4 with four runs, one triple, and two RBI. Those four runs gave Dalebout a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Kaylee Parker, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with five RBI and one run.

Napavine always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .717. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.

Napavine is on a roll lately: they've won eight of their last ten games. That's provided a nice bump to their 10-4-1 record this season. Those wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 12.3 runs over those games. As for Toledo, they pushed their record up to 10-3-2 with the victory, which was their fifth straight at home.