The Erie-Prophetstown Panthers are taking a road trip to take on the Princeton Tigers at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Erie-Prophetstown took a eight-run loss the last time they faced off against Sherrard, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. The Panthers narrowly escaped with a victory as the squad sidled past the Tigers 4-2. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Panthers.
Wynn Renkes
| 04/19/25 vs Sherrard | 2 |
| 04/14/25 @ Newman Central Catholic | 0 |
| 04/12/25 @ Mercer County | 1 |
| 04/11/25 vs Kewanee | 1 |
| 04/10/25 @ Kewanee | 1 |
Wynn Renkes was a major factor no matter where she played. She pitched five innings while giving up just one earned run off four hits. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going a perfect 2-for-2 with one RBI.
Renkes wasn't the only one making solid contact as four players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Chloe Hamilton, who went 1-for-2 with one stolen base and one run.
Meanwhile, Princeton made easy work of Monmouth-Roseville on Saturday and carried off a 10-1 win. The result was nothing new for the Tigers, who have now won three contests by nine runs or more so far this season.
Like Erie-Prophetstown, Princeton also got a great game from a two-way player: Avah Oertel. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out eight batters over seven innings while giving up just one earned run off five hits (and only one walk). Those eight strikeouts gave Oertel a new career-high. She was also stellar in the batter's box, firing off two home runs, three runs, and four RBI while going 3-for-4.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Kelsea Klingenberg, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with two stolen bases, one run, and one RBI. That's the most hits she has posted since back in May of 2024. Another player making a difference was Keely Lawson, who went 2-for-4 with two runs and one double.
Erie-Prophetstown now has a winning record of 7-6. As for Princeton, their record now sits at 4-5.
Princeton's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Erie-Prophetstown has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 8.9 hits per game. It's a different story for Princeton, though, as they've been averaging 11 hits. Given Erie-Prophetstown's sizable advantage in that area, the Tigers will need to find a way to close that gap.
Erie-Prophetstown suffered a grim 9-3 defeat to Princeton when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Can the Panthers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
