The Riverside Bulldogs will square off against the Warren Central Vikings at 5:30 p.m. on Friday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
If Riverside beats Warren Central with 15 runs on Friday, it's going to be the team's new lucky number: they've won their past two games with that exact score. The Bulldogs blew past Yazoo City 15-2 on Thursday. The victory was familiar territory for the Bulldogs, who have now won three matches in a row.
The team relied heavily on Paislee Misskelley, who scored three runs and stole three bases while getting on base in all three of her plate appearances. That's the most runs she has posted since back in March. Ann Brilye Hankins was another key player, scoring a run and stealing two bases while going 2-for-3.
Meanwhile, while Warren Central put up plenty of runs on Thursday, the same can't be said for Ridgeland. The Vikings put the hurt on the Titans with a sharp 21-0 win. The victory continues a trend for the Vikings in their matchups with the Titans: they've now won nine in a row.
KeKe McKay was a standout: she went 2-for-3 with three RBI, two runs, and one triple. Another player making a difference was Sydney Hern, who went a perfect 1-for-1 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs.
Warren Central always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .667. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Ridgeland only posted an OBP of .308.
Riverside pushed their record up to 16-5 with the win, which was their fourth straight on the road. Those road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 18.3 runs over those games. As for Warren Central, the win got them back to even at 9-9.
Friday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Riverside hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .359. However, it's not like Warren Central struggles in that department as they've averaged .317. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Riverside suffered a grim 22-0 defeat to Warren Central in their previous meeting back in March of 2022. Will the Bulldogs have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
