The Scotland Fighting Scots will square off against the Western Alamance Warriors on Friday. Scotland will be looking to extend their current 23-game winning streak.
Scotland is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Tuesday. They didn't even let West Brunswick on the board, marking the Fighting Scots' second-straight 10-0 shutout. Considering the Fighting Scots have won 17 games by more than eight runs this season, Tuesday's blowout was nothing new.
Dawson Blue was incredible, going a perfect 2-for-2 with one home run, two runs, and one stolen base. The team also got some help courtesy of Addison Johnson, who went 1-for-4 with one home run and four RBI.
Meanwhile, after only one run in their last contest, Western Alamance made sure to put some runs up on the board against North Brunswick on Tuesday. The Warriors blew past the Scorpions 13-3. The Warriors are also no stranger to big wins: their blowout was the ninth matchup they've won by 6+ runs this season.
Addison Beal spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned runs on ten hits. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Bayleigh Burris, who went 3-for-4 with one home run, six RBI, and two stolen bases. Those six RBI gave her a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Ryan Justice, who went 3-for-5 with four runs and one RBI.
Western Alamance hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. They are 8-2 when they post two or more strikeouts.
Scotland pushed their record up to 24-1 with the win, which was their 13th straight at home. The home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 0.3 runs on average over those games. As for Western Alamance, their record now sits at 12-10.
Friday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Scotland has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .485. However, it's not like Western Alamance struggles in that department as they've averaged .465. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Scotland might still be hurting after the 12-0 defeat they got from Western Alamance in their previous meeting back in May of 2023. Can the Fighting Scots avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
