Softball Game Preview: Lumberton Panthers vs. Hattiesburg Tigers

The Lumberton Panthers will take on the Hattiesburg Tigers at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.

On Monday, Lumberton was able to grind out a solid victory over Our Lady Academy, taking the game 20-15.

Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Hattiesburg, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Friday. They were the clear victors by a 13-2 margin over Perry Central on Monday. Considering the Tigers have won six contests by more than nine runs this season, Monday's blowout was nothing new.

Camiyah Craft was a major factor no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run over four innings pitched. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances. She was even better at the plate, scoring three runs and stealing four bases while going 2-for-3. What's more, she posted two RBI, the most she's had since back in February.

In other batting news, Hattiesburg let Darriyah Walls and Kiyuana Smith run wild. Walls scored a run and stole four bases while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances, while Smith scored three runs and stole three bases while going 2-for-2. That's the most stolen bases Smith has posted since back in April of 2024. The team also got some help courtesy of Keke Trotter, who scored a run and stole a base while getting on base in all three of her plate appearances.

Hattiesburg was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .619. That's the best batting average they've posted all season.

Lumberton's win bumped their record up to 5-6-1. As for Hattiesburg, their victory ended a four-game drought at home and bumped them up to 10-10.

Lumberton might still be hurting after the 14-4 defeat they got from Hattiesburg when the teams last played back in February. Can the Panthers avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.