Clinton had lost four straight at home, but on Tuesday they dropped their record down to 5-14 to make it five. They fell just short of the Central A & M Raiders by a score of 9-7. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest loss the Maroons have suffered against the Raiders since April 22, 2022.
Aliviyah Haynes spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned (and eight unearned) runs on ten hits.
At the plate, Riley Fentress was cooking despite her team's loss, going 1-for-2 with two RBI, one run, and one double.
As for Central A & M, the victory made it two in a row for them and bumps their season record up to 12-13. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win they have posted against Clinton since April 22, 2022.
On Central A & M's side, Gwyn Hardimon made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out eight batters over seven innings while giving up six earned runs off five hits. Hardimon has been consistent: she hasn't tossed less than seven strikeouts in seven consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two runs.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Sophie Roe, who went 2-for-5 with two stolen bases, one triple, and two RBI. She has been hot recently, having posted at least one stolen base the last four times she's played. Another player making a difference was Kayla McPeek, who went 3-for-4 with two runs, two doubles, and one RBI.
Both squads are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Clinton will take on Rantoul at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. As for Central A & M, they will challenge Tuscola at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.
