The Rochester Zebras will challenge the Pioneer Panthers at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. Rochester is coming into the match hot, having won their last ten games.
Rochester is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Tuesday. They were the clear victor by a 15-3 margin over North Judson-San Pierre.
Bria Rensberger made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out nine batters over four innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off two hits. Rensberger has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in 17 consecutive pitching appearances. Rensberger was also solid in the batter's box, going 3-for-3 with an RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Aubrey Wilson, who scored three runs and stole five bases while going 3-for-3. She is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as she's now stolen at least one in the last five games she's played. Brailyn Hunter was another key contributor, scoring three runs while going 2-for-3.
Meanwhile, Pioneer beat Wabash 9-4 on Tuesday. The victory made it back-to-back wins for Pioneer.
Lois Layer spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned (and three unearned) runs on four hits and racked up eight Ks.
At the plate, Pioneer let Ava Beasy and Kamryn Newby loose on the outfield. Beasy scored two runs and stole a base while going 2-for-4, while Newby scored three runs and stole a base while going 4-for-4. The team also got some help courtesy of Emma Sells, who went 4-for-5 with a stolen base and an RBI.
Rochester has been performing well recently as they've won 12 of their last 15 matchups, which provided a nice bump to their 15-9 record this season. As for Pioneer, their victory bumped their record up to 19-8.
Thursday's contest will be a test for both team's pitchers. Rochester hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .321. However, it's not like Pioneer struggles in that department as they've averaged .423. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
