The Denison Yellow Jackets will face off against the Melissa Cardinals at 6:45 p.m. on Friday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Having struggled with five defeats in a row, Denison turned things around against McKinney North on Tuesday. They were the clear victor by a 19-7 margin over the Bulldogs. The game was the first time the Yellow Jackets have beaten the Bulldogs on their field since April 12, 2022.
Emmerson Dickinson was a major factor no matter where she played. On the mound, she struck out six batters over 4.1 innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off five hits. That's the fewest earned runs she has allowed since back in February. She was also stellar in the batter's box, getting on base in four of her five plate appearances with one home run and three RBI.
In other batting news, Denison got a massive performance out of Addison Ciaccio, who scored three runs and stole Three bases. while going 3-for-5. That's the most hits Ciaccio has posted since back in February. Katie-Lynn Douglas was another key player, scoring four runs and stealing Two bases. while getting on base in four of her five plate appearances.
Denison kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 19 hits. They are a perfect 4-0 when they post 11 or more hits.
Meanwhile, Melissa put another one in the bag on Tuesday to keep their perfect season alive. They didn't even let Anna on the board, marking Melissa's second-straight 15-0 shutout. The Cardinals' pitching crew has been rock solid lately; the team hasn't given up a run in their last six contests.
Eloisa Maes looked comfortable as she struck out six batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits (and only one walk). She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up a single earned run in ten consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Amariee Bradford was a standout: she fired off two home runs and three RBI while going 2-for-3. Another player making a difference was Finlee Williams, who scored three runs and stole a base while going 2-for-3.
Melissa's win was their 14th straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 17-0. The wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 0.2 runs on average over those games. As for Denison, the victory got them back to even at 8-8.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Friday as neither team is afraid to steal. Denison has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 5 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Melissa struggles in that department as they've been averaging 3.5 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Denison suffered a grim 11-1 defeat to Melissa in their previous meeting back in April of 2024. Will Denison have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
