Independence has enjoyed a five-game homestand but will soon have to dust off their road jerseys. They will take on the Charlotte Catholic Cougars at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. Independence is strutting in with some hitting muscle, as they've averaged 7.7 runs per game this season.
Independence pushed their score all the way to 11 two weeks ago, but even that wasn't enough to win. They suffered a tough 21-11 defeat at the hands of Cox Mill. That's two games in a row now that Independence has lost by exactly ten runs.
Gianna McCloud was cooking despite her team's loss, getting on base in all four of her plate appearances with a home run, four RBI, and two runs. The team also got some help courtesy of Morgan Clark, who went 2-for-4 with two runs, a triple, and a double.
Even though they lost, Independence kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. That's the most hits they've managed all season.
Meanwhile, Charlotte Catholic can now show off six landslide victories after their most recent contest on Wednesday. Everything went their way against East Mecklenburg as Charlotte Catholic made off with an 18-0 win. While fans of Charlotte Catholic might be used to big wins, the 18-run margin marked the team's biggest victory yet this season.
Rachel Wildman was a major factor no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and only one hit while striking out ten over five innings pitched. Wildman has been consistent recently: she hasn't pitched less than five innings in five consecutive pitching appearances. Wildman was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 1-for-3.
In other batting news, Madden Glossner was a standout: she went 2-for-3 with two runs, a triple, and two RBI. Another player making a difference was Annabelle Grogan, who scored two runs and stole four bases while going 1-for-3.
Independence's loss dropped their record down to 7-4-1. As for Charlotte Catholic, they have been performing incredibly well recently as they've won seven of their last eight matches, which provided a massive bump to their 7-5 record this season.
Friday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Independence has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .469. However, it's not like Charlotte Catholic struggles in that department as they've averaged .450. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Independence skirted past Charlotte Catholic 7-6 in their previous meeting back in March. The rematch might be a little tougher for Independence since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
