Softball Game Preview: East Carter Raiders vs. Blazer Tomcats

The East Carter Raiders will face off against the Blazer Tomcats at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. East Carter will be looking to extend their current nine-game winning streak.

East Carter is returning to their home field after beating Hurricane on theirs, despite the fact Hurricane has dominated at home this season. The Raiders came out on top against the Redskins by a score of 6-2 on Thursday.

Payton Rice spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned runs on five hits.

On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Haleigh Hall, who went 2-for-4 with one home run and two runs. Emily Biddle was another key player, going 2-for-3 with two RBI, one run, and one double.

They weren't the only ones making solid contact: East Carter kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least 11 hits in three consecutive contests.

Meanwhile, Blazer fell victim to Wheelersburg and their airtight pitching crew on Tuesday. They took a 3-0 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Pirates. The matchup marked the first time this season in which the Tomcats were not able to get on the board.

Blazer has traveled a rocky road recently, having lost eight of their last ten games. That's put a noticeable dent in their 10-12 record this season. As for East Carter, their win bumped their record up to 21-4.

East Carter beat Blazer 5-2 when the teams last played back in May of 2024. Will the Raiders repeat their success, or do the Tomcats have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.