The Henderson Lions will face off against the Pine Tree Pirates at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Henderson's pitching crew has only allowed 3.3 runs per game this season, so Pine Tree's hitters will have their work cut out for them.
Henderson had been on a four-game streak of scoring at least ten runs, but Hudson put an end to it on Friday. The Lions lost 18-1 to the Hornets. The pitching woes were uncharacteristic for the Lions, who until this matchup were averaging 3.33 runs allowed.
Meanwhile, after low-scoring totals in their previous three game, Pine Tree brought some dynamite into their most recent contest. Their pitcher stepped up to hand Chapel Hill a 15-0 shutout on Friday. The win was some much needed relief for the Pirates as it spelled an end to their three-game losing streak.
Ma'Kayla Rougely made a big impact no matter where she played. She didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out seven over four innings pitched. Rougely was also stellar in the batter's box, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. She also put up a stolen base, which was her first of the season.
In other batting news, Blair Schroeder and Zamora Smith did most of the damage at the plate: Schroeder went 2-for-3 with two triples, three runs, and one RBI, while Smith went a perfect 4-for-4 with two stolen bases, two runs, and two RBI. Those two triples gave Schroeder a new career-high. Lily Dodson was another key player, going 1-for-3 with three RBI, one run, and one double.
Pine Tree always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .594. They are a perfect 3-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Henderson's loss dropped their record down to 13-7-1. As for Pine Tree, their victory bumped their record up to 6-8.
Tuesday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Henderson hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .325. However, it's not like Pine Tree struggles in that department as they've averaged .313. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Henderson got the 'W' in their previous matchup back in April of 2025 against Pine Tree by a conclusive 9-1 score. Do the Lions have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Pirates turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
