The Twin Rivers Royals will venture away from home to take on the Van Buren Bulldogs at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Twin Rivers' pitching crew has only allowed 3.6 runs per game this season, so Van Buren's hitters will have their work cut out for them.
Twin Rivers is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Missouri's top teams: Clearwater, who was ranked 17th at the time (Twin Rivers was ranked 22nd). The Royals fell just short of the Fightin' Tigers by a score of 8-6 on Thursday. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest loss the Royals have suffered since April 20, 2024.
Ivy Benson made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went 2-for-4 with one home run, two runs, and one triple. That home run was her first of the season. The team also got some help courtesy of Marlee Musgraves, who got on base in all three of her plate appearances with one stolen base.
Meanwhile, Van Buren waltzed into their game on Thursday with two straight wins... but they left with three. They put the hurt on the Comets with a sharp 16-1 win. That looming 16-1 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Bulldogs yet this season.
Van Buren got a massive performance out of Katelyn Warner, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with three doubles, three RBI, and one run. Warner is on a roll when it comes to hits, as she's now got three or more in each of the last three games she's played. Another player making a difference was Payton Sonsoucie, who went 1-for-3 with six RBI, one run, and one double.
Van Buren always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .733. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Van Buren now has a winning record of 4-3. As for Twin Rivers, their defeat dropped their record down to 8-2-1.
Thursday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Twin Rivers has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .534. However, it's not like Van Buren struggles in that department as they've averaged .460. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
