The James Buchanan Rockets will venture away from home to square off against the Big Spring Bulldogs at 4:15 p.m. on Thursday. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
James Buchanan took a loss when they played away from home on Monday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Wednesday. They came out on top against West Perry by a score of 7-3. The victory was a breath of fresh air for the Rockets as it put an end to their three-game losing streak.
Lilianna Wiley spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned runs on seven hits and racked up 12 Ks.
On the hitting side, Brooklyn Sanchez was incredible, going 2-for-3 with one home run and three RBI. That home run was her first of the season. The team also got some help courtesy of Madisyn Amsley, who went 1-for-2 with two stolen bases and two runs.
James Buchanan was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .423. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as West Perry only posted a batting average of .280.
Meanwhile, Big Spring entered their tilt with Shippensburg on Wednesday with three consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with four. They were the clear victors by a 12-2 margin over the Greyhounds. That's two games straight that the Bulldogs have won by exactly ten runs.
The team relied heavily on Victoria Rinaldi, who fired off two home runs and three runs while going 3-for-4. Those two home runs gave her a new career-high. Izzy Fry was another key player, going 2-for-4 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs.
Big Spring's record is now 10-4. As for James Buchanan, they now have a winning record of 7-6.
Thursday's match might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. James Buchanan has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .457. However, it's not like Big Spring struggles in that department as they've averaged .467. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
James Buchanan suffered a grim 13-2 defeat to Big Spring in their previous matchup back in April of 2022. Can the Rockets avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
