Softball Game Preview: Banks Braves vs. Corbett Cardinals

The Banks Braves will square off against the Corbett Cardinals at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday. Banks is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.8 runs per game this season.

On Wednesday, Banks came up short against Scappoose and fell 11-6. The loss continues a trend for the Braves in their meetings with the Indians: they've now lost three in a row.

Khloe Long made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went 3-for-4 with one home run and three RBI.

Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Corbett, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Thursday. They won by a run and slipped past Warrenton 11-10.

Malaya Cannon-Peterson was incredible, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, three runs, and four RBI. Those three runs gave her a new career-high. Bella Austinson was another key player, going 3-for-4 with three runs, one triple, and one stolen base.

Corbett 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 seven consecutive matchups.

Corbett's win bumped their record up to 5-9. As for Banks, their defeat dropped their record down to 12-9-1.

Corbett's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Banks has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 8.8 hits per game. It's a different story for Corbett, though, as they've been averaging 10.9 hits. Given Banks' sizable advantage in that area, the Cardinals will need to find a way to close that gap.

Banks took their victory against Corbett when the teams last played back in April by a conclusive 18-2 score. Do the Braves have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Cardinals turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.