vs
| 03/21/25 - Home | 9-3 W |
| 04/23/24 - Home | 11-0 W |
| 03/20/24 - Away | 15-3 W |
| 05/02/23 - Away | 7-8 L |
| 04/25/23 - Away | 4-6 L |
| + 5 more games |
Hoke County and Pinecrest are an even 5-5 against one another since April of 2021, but likely not for long. The Bucks will head out on the road to square off against the Patriots at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Hoke County will be looking to extend their current five-game winning streak.
Hoke County proved they can win big on Tuesday (they won by eight) and on Thursday they proved they can win the close ones too. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 6-5 victory over Union Pines. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Bucks have posted against the Vikings since February 27, 2019.
Niya Jones spent all eight innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned (and three unearned) runs on six hits. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than two walks in 17 consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Bailey Mass was incredible, going 2-for-3 with one home run, one stolen base, and two RBI. That's the most hits she has posted since back in March. Another player making a difference was Kalea Parker, who scored a run while going 3-for-4.
Mass wasn't the only one making solid contact: Hoke County kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 16 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in five consecutive games.
Meanwhile, Pinecrest fell victim to Scotland and their airtight pitching crew on Thursday. They came up short against the Fighting Scots, falling 14-0. The Patriots have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Hoke County pushed their record up to 15-4 with the victory, which was their third straight at home. Those home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.7 runs on average over those games. As for Pinecrest, their defeat dropped their record down to 4-14.
Tuesday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Hoke County hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .335. However, it's not like Pinecrest struggles in that department as they've averaged .333. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Everything went Hoke County's way against Pinecrest in their previous matchup back in March, as Hoke County made off with a 9-3 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Bucks since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
