Greenville hasn't had much luck against Gillespie recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Comets will face off against the Miners at 4:30 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Greenville was handed a heart-breaking two-run defeat in their last contest, but they sure didn't let that happen against Vandalia on Tuesday. The Comets blew past the Vandals 17-3. The Comets haven't had any issues with the Vandals recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive victory against them.
Payton White was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out six batters over seven innings while giving up just one earned (and two unearned) runs off eight hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in nine consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-5 with two runs.
In other batting news, Greenville got a massive performance out of Haylee Clark, who went 3-for-4 with one home run and two RBI. Another player making a difference was Ramzi Stefanisin, who went 2-for-4 with four RBI, one stolen base, and one run.
Meanwhile, Gillespie waltzed into their matchup on Thursday with four straight wins... but they left with five. They put the hurt on the Panthers with a sharp 12-2 win.
Like Greenville, Gillespie also got a great game from a two-way player: Paxton Reid. On the mound, she struck out seven batters over six innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off six hits (and only one walk). Reid was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with three RBI. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in April of 2024.
In other batting news, Laci Schuckenbrock was a standout: she went 2-for-4 with three RBI, two runs, and one triple. That triple was her first of the season. Ava Parish was another key player, getting on base in three of her five plate appearances with three runs, one stolen base, and one RBI.
Gillespie's victory was their sixth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 11-5. The home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.2 runs on average over those games. As for Greenville, their record now sits at 14-3-1.
Friday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Greenville hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .349. However, it's not like Gillespie struggles in that department as they've averaged .362. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Greenville suffered a grim 7-1 defeat to Gillespie when the teams last played back in May of 2024. Can the Comets avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
