For the first time this season, Pine Prairie will have a chance to prove themselves in a conference matchup on Thursday. They will square off against the Iota Bulldogs at 5:30 p.m. Each of these teams will be fighting to keep a win streak alive as Pine Prairie comes in on ten and Iota on four.
While Pine Prairie's victory against North Vermilion wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. Pine Prairie skirted past North Vermilion 5-3.
Kynnedi Ware spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned runs on nine hits and racked up 12 Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in 13 consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Ella Fontenot was excellent, going 2-for-3 with one home run and two runs. That home run was her first of the season. Josie Vidrine was another key player, going 1-for-3 with one home run.
Fans were treated to a battle of the Bulldogs on Wednesday. Iota walked away with a 6-1 win over Jennings.
The team relied heavily on Addison Cormier, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 1-for-3.
Iota hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now struck out at most five strikeouts in four consecutive contests.
Iota's victory was their 12th straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 16-2. They've dominated over that stretch too, winning by an average of 8.4 runs. As for Pine Prairie, their record now sits at 18-2.
Thursday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Pine Prairie has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .447. However, it's not like Iota struggles in that department as they've averaged .439. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Everything went Pine Prairie's way against Iota when the teams last played back in March of 2024, as Pine Prairie made off with a 12-1 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for Pine Prairie since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
