Stryker hasn't had much luck against Hilltop recently, but that could start to change on Tuesday. The Panthers will head out on the road to square off against the Cadets at 5:00 p.m.
Fans were treated to a battle of the Panthers on Friday. Stryker lost 20-2 to Delta.
Stryker saw four different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Mackynzie Drewes, who went 1-for-2 with one stolen base and one run.
Meanwhile, Hilltop waltzed into their matchup on Saturday with four straight wins... but they left with five. They never let the Panthers get on the board and left with a 12-0 victory. The Cadets might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won eight contests by seven runs or more this season.
Kelsy Connolly was a major factor no matter where she played. She didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out 11 over five innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two walks any time she's pitched this season. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going a perfect 4-for-4 with four RBI, two runs, and two doubles. That's the most hits she has posted since back in April of 2025.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Halle Jones, who fired off two home runs, three runs, and four RBI while going 3-for-5. Those two home runs gave her a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Brooklyn Kuszmaul, who went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one double.
Hilltop was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .469. They are a perfect 7-0 when they post a batting average of .375 or better.
Hilltop's record is now 8-2. As for Stryker, their loss dropped their record down to 0-3.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Tuesday as neither team is afraid to steal. Stryker has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 4 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Hilltop struggles in that department as they've been averaging 2.7 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Stryker might still be hurting after the 20-0 defeat they got from Hilltop in their previous matchup back in May of 2025. Can the Panthers avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
