Softball Game Preview: Manchester Panthers vs. Woodridge Bulldogs

The Manchester Panthers will head out to face off against the Woodridge Bulldogs at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Manchester is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 9.1 runs per game this season.

Manchester's usually-dominant pitching crew will be looking to make up for Monday's struggle, when Green hitters got past them. The Panthers took a 10-7 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Bulldogs on Monday. The Panthers' loss signaled the end of their three-game winning streak.

Cassidy Perry was cooking despite her team's loss, going 2-for-4 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI. Another player making a difference was Saige Rankin, who went 2-for-4 with two runs and two doubles.

Meanwhile, Woodridge scored first but ultimately less than Norton in their match on Tuesday. They came up short against the Panthers, falling 12-2. The Bulldogs have struggled against the Panthers recently, as the game was their eighth consecutive lost meeting.

Woodridge saw four different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Julia Elkins, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with two stolen bases and one run.

Woodridge's defeat dropped their record down to 4-17. As for Manchester, they suffered their first road loss, dropping their record down to 13-4.

Woodridge's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Manchester has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 9.1 hits per game. It's a different story for Woodridge, though, as they've been averaging 10.4 hits. Given Manchester's sizable advantage in that area, the Bulldogs will need to find a way to close that gap.

Manchester took their victory against Woodridge in their previous meeting back in April of 2022 by a conclusive 12-2 score. Do the Panthers have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Bulldogs turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.