Mitchell is 0-10 against Owen since April of 2019 but things could change on Friday. The Mountaineers will host the Warhorses at 4:30 p.m. The two teams are sauntering into the matchup backed by comfortable wins in their prior games.
Mitchell barely beat Avery County the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Mountaineers put the hurt on the Vikings with a sharp 9-3 victory on Tuesday. The Mountaineers haven't had any issues with the Vikings recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive win against them.
Brianna Nutter spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned runs on nine hits.
On the hitting side, Gracie English was incredible, going 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, three runs, and two RBI. That's the most hits she has posted since back in March. The team also got some help courtesy of Olivia Ollis, who went 2-for-3 with three RBI and one double.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Mitchell kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. They are 6-2 when they post 11 or more hits.
Meanwhile, Owen waltzed into their matchup on Thursday with six straight wins... but they left with seven. They blew past the Patriots 13-1. The Warhorses might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won 12 games by six runs or more this season.
Sophie Neal made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She didn't allow a single earned run while striking out nine over seven innings pitched. She has been consistent: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in six consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with three stolen bases and three runs.
In other batting news, Owen let Mia Roland and Elly Wright run wild. Roland went 3-for-5 with one home run, four runs, and two RBI, while Wright got on base in three of her five plate appearances with one home run, three runs, and two RBI. Hannah Norton was another key player, going 3-for-5 with three runs and three RBI.
Owen's victory was their fourth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 14-3. Those road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 13.3 runs over those games. As for Mitchell, their victory bumped their record up to 7-11.
Both Mitchell and Owen just can't seem to miss. The Mountaineers have been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 9.2 hits per game. However, it's not like Owen struggles in that department as they've been averaging only 3.7 hits. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Mitchell might still be hurting after the 18-3 defeat they got from Owen in their previous meeting back in April. Will the Mountaineers have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
