The Chincoteague Ponies will take on the Arcadia Firebirds at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
On Tuesday, Chincoteague got the win against Northampton by a conclusive 15-1. The Ponies haven't had any issues with the Yellowjackets recently, as the game was their seventh consecutive victory against them.
The team relied heavily on Ginny Sawyer, who got on base in all four of her plate appearances with two runs and one RBI. Faith Stadler was another key player, getting on base in all four of her plate appearances with three runs.
Chincoteague hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. They are a perfect 3-0 when they post two or more strikeouts.
Meanwhile, Arcadia made easy work of Holly Grove Christian on Wednesday and carried off a 12-1 win. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Firebirds.
Brinlee Kauthen and Ryann Giddens made a big impact no matter where they played. On the mound, Kauthen pitched one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. Meanwhile, Giddens didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out 11 over four innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two walks in seven consecutive appearances. At the plate, Kauthen went 2-for-3 with three RBI, two runs, and one stolen base, while Giddens went 1-for-2 with two stolen bases and two runs.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact as four players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Olivia Lynch, who went 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI. That's the most hits she has posted since back in April. Another was Payton Taylor, who got on base in two of her four plate appearances with one run and one RBI.
Arcadia's victory was their fourth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 8-7. Those home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 13.3 runs over those games. As for Chincoteague, their victory bumped their record up to 9-7.
Thursday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Chincoteague has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .436. However, it's not like Arcadia struggles in that department as they've averaged .434. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Chincoteague suffered a grim 10-0 defeat to Arcadia when the teams last played last Tuesday. Will the Ponies 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.