Antwerp has gone a perfect 3-0 against Continental recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Thursday. The Archers will hit the road for the first time this season to take on the Pirates at 5:00 p.m. Antwerp is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.2 runs per game this season.
Antwerp proved they can win big on Monday (they won by ten) and on Tuesday they proved they can win the close ones too. They skirted past Hicksville 4-3. The Archers haven't had any issues with the Aces recently, as the game was their sixth consecutive win against them.
Elle Clem
| 04/01/25 vs Hicksville | 9 |
| 03/31/25 vs Edon | 4 |
Elle Clem made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out nine batters over seven innings while giving up just one earned (and two unearned) runs off four hits (and not a single walk). With that strong performance, she is now averaging an impressive 6.5 strikeouts per game. She was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs while going 4-for-4. Those four hits gave her a new career-high.
Clem wasn't the only one making solid contact as four players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Taylor Hogans, who went a perfect 1-for-1 with two RBI. Haydyn Lengacher also deserves some recognition as she hit her first double of the season.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Continental, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Saturday. Everything went their way against Pandora-Gilboa on Tuesday as they made off with a 16-0 victory.
Like Antwerp, Continental also got a great game from a two-way player: Gracie Homier. She kept things locked down with no earned runs or hits while striking out 14 over five innings pitched. Homier has been consistent recently: she hasn't tossed less than seven strikeouts any time she's pitched this season. She was also big at the plate, scoring three runs and stealing three bases while going 2-for-2.
In other batting news, Continental let Kenzie Searfoss and Cassie Pier run wild. Searfoss went 1-for-2 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs, while Pier went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, three RBI, and two runs. The team also got some help courtesy of Maeci Dockery, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 1-for-3.
Continental kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in four consecutive games dating back to last season.
Continental pushed their record up to 2-1 with the win, which was their eighth straight at home dating back to last season. Those home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.0 runs over those games. As for Antwerp, they now have a winning record of 3-2.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Thursday as neither team is afraid to steal. Antwerp has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.4 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Continental struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 7 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Antwerp came out on top in a nail-biter against Continental when the teams last played back in April of 2024, sneaking past 4-3. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Archers since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
