The Alton Redbirds will face off against the Belleville West Maroons at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Alton has now lost ten straight, leaving the team hunting for their first win since March 20.
On Tuesday, Alton didn't have quite enough to beat Granite City and fell 2-1.
Izzy Hernandez was a force to be reckoned with on the mound despite the final result: she tossed six innings while giving up just two earned runs off four hits.
At the plate, Alton saw four different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Ava Taulbee, who went 2-for-3 with one double and one RBI. That RBI marked the first that Taulbee brought in this season.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Belleville West). They were the clear victors by a 17-1 margin over East St. Louis on Tuesday. The team's explosion at the plate also rewarded the Maroons with their most commanding win of the season.
Taylar McCaster and Ellaina Jenkins were a major factor no matter where they played. Throwing, McCaster pitched one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. Meanwhile, Jenkins struck out seven batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit (and not a single walk). She has been consistent : she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in five consecutive appearances. At bat, McCaster scored two runs while getting on base in all three of her plate appearances, while Jenkins scored two runs while getting on base in all three of her plate appearances.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Daijah Jackson, who fired off two home runs, three runs, and four RBI while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances. Those two home runs gave her a new career-high. Ella Weaver was another key player, scoring two runs while going 2-for-2.
Belleville West kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They are 4-1 when they post 11 or more hits.
Alton's loss dropped their record down to 1-10. As for Belleville West, they now have a winning record of 6-5.
Alton suffered a grim 13-3 defeat to Belleville West in their previous matchup back in April of 2024. Will the Redbirds have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
