Softball Game Preview: Nease Panthers vs. Fletcher Senators

The Nease Panthers will head out to square off against the Fletcher Senators at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.

The home team had won the previous seven meetings between Nease and Bartram Trail, and Bartram Trail kept the tradition alive. Nease took an 8-3 hit to the loss column at the hands of Bartram Trail on Wednesday.

Alanna Doherty made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBI. The team also got some help courtesy of Miranda Harmon, who scored a run and stole a base while going 2-for-4.

Even though they lost, Nease hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their strikeout total in three consecutive matchups.

Meanwhile, Fletcher waltzed into their game on Wednesday with two straight wins... but they left with three. They were the clear victor by a 17-6 margin over the Saints. The contest marked the Senators' most dominant victory of the season so far.

The team relied heavily on Ava Lowman, who scored four runs while going 4-for-5. She continues to improve, besting her previous point total in each of the last three games she's played. Madison Rodriguez was another key player, scoring three runs while going 2-for-4.

Fletcher now has a winning record of 4-3. As for Nease, their defeat dropped their record down to 2-7.

Fletcher's hitters will have their work cut out for them on Thursday. Nease has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 8.8 strikeouts per game. It's a different story for Fletcher, though, as they've been averaging only 4 strikeouts. Will Nease keep running through batters, or will Fletcher buck the trend?

Nease beat Fletcher 5-2 in their previous meeting back in April of 2024. Will Nease repeat their success, or does Fletcher have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.