Marshall has gone a perfect 3-0 against Arcola recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Friday. The Lions will venture away from home to challenge the Purple Riders at 4:30 p.m. Marshall is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 10.4 runs per game this season.
Marshall will roll into the game after a wild two-game stretch: they didn't score any runs on Monday, then bounced right back against Flora on Thursday. The Lions put the hurt on the Wolves with a sharp 18-4 win. The Lions might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won 15 matchups by six runs or more this season.
Kyla Gustafson spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and one unearned) runs on seven hits and racked up 15 Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances.
Avery Cornwell
| 05/15/25 @ Flora | 2 |
| 05/09/25 @ Heritage | 1 |
| 05/06/25 vs Richland County | 1 |
| 04/28/25 @ Charleston | 1 |
| 04/14/25 vs Robinson | 1 |
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Avery Cornwell, who fired off two home runs, five RBI, and three runs while going 4-for-5. Those two home runs gave her a new career-high. Lauren English was another key player, going 2-for-5 with one home run, three runs, and three RBI.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Marshall kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 16 hits. They are 14-2 when they post 11 or more hits.
Meanwhile, Arcola started off well but failed to capitalize on an early lead against Argenta-Oreana. They came up short against the Bombers on Wednesday, falling 13-2. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest defeat the Purple Riders have suffered since April 17th.
Marshall pushed their record up to 19-8 with the victory, which was their third straight on the road. The road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 21.7 runs over those games. As for Arcola, their loss dropped their record down to 10-12.
Everything went Marshall's way against Arcola in their previous matchup back in May of 2024, as Marshall made off with a 19-0 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Lions since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
