Softball Game Preview: Lincoln-Way East Griffins vs. Oswego Panthers

The Lincoln-Way East Griffins are taking a road trip to take on the Oswego Panthers at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. Lincoln-Way East's pitching crew has only allowed 1.7 runs per game this season, so Oswego's hitters will have their work cut out for them.

Lincoln-Way East managed to slip by Lockport the last time these teams faced off, but didn't have those same answers this time around. The Griffins came up short against the Porters on Thursday, falling 7-1. The Griffins' defeat signaled the end of their four-game winning streak.

Oswego came out on top against Romeoville on Thursday thanks in part to the team's impressive ten-run first inning. The Panthers put the hurt on the Spartans with a sharp 11-1 win. The Panthers might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won 18 games by six runs or more this season.

Aubriella Garza spent all six innings played on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on two hits and racked up eight Ks. She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks in six consecutive appearances.

On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Kiyah Chavez, who got on base in all four of her plate appearances with one double. Another player making a difference was Rikka Ludvigson, who went 1-for-4 with two RBI and one run.

The victory was the third in a row for Oswego, bringing their record up to 24-1. The wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 13.0 runs over those games. As for Lincoln-Way East, their loss dropped their record down to 21-3.

Lincoln-Way East came out on top in a nail-biter against Oswego in their previous meeting back in May of 2024, sneaking past 2-1. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Griffins since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.