The Franklin-Simpson Wildcats will head out to face off against the Westmoreland Eagles at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. Both come into the matchup bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Franklin-Simpson took a 11-run defeat the last time they faced off against Logan County, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. The Wildcats sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 6-5 win over the Cougars on Tuesday. The victory was some much needed relief for the Wildcats as it spelled an end to their six-game losing streak.
Kloie Smith was a major factor no matter where she played. She tossed 5.1 innings while giving up four earned runs off five hits. Smith was even better at the plate, scoring two runs and stealing two bases while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances.
Smith wasn't the only one making solid contact as three players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Allie Utley, who scored a run and stole three bases while going 3-for-4. That's the most stolen bases Utley has posted since back in April of 2024.
Meanwhile, Westmoreland can bid farewell to their three-game losing streak thanks to their game on Wednesday. They put the hurt on Gallatin with a sharp 13-1 win. The Eagles might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won four contests by six runs or more this season.
Like Franklin-Simpson, Westmoreland also got a great game from a two-way player: Lanie Cook Parkhurst. She looked comfortable on the mound, tossing seven innings while giving up just one earned run off six hits. Cook Parkhurst has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run while going 3-for-5.
In other batting news, Mylea Johnson and Amia Caldwell did most of the damage at the plate: Johnson went 4-for-5 with five RBI and one run, while Caldwell scored three runs and stole two bases while going 3-for-5. Caldwell is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as she's now snagged at least one in each of the last four games she's played. Another player making a difference was Gabrielle Hale, who scored two runs while going 2-for-5.
Westmoreland was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .415. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Gallatin only posted a batting average of .250.
Westmoreland's record now sits at 6-7. As for Franklin-Simpson, the victory got them back to even at 7-7-1.
