Manchester has won four straight games at home, while Triway has won four straight on the road, but those streaks won't matter much on Friday. The Panthers will host the Titans at 5:00 p.m. Manchester is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 9.1 runs per game this season.
While Manchester's victory against Tuslaw wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Panthers had just enough and edged out the Mustangs 6-4.
Rachel Baker spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered four earned runs on nine hits and racked up nine Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in 13 consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Alli Hodgkinson was excellent, going 1-for-3 with three RBI, one run, and one double. The team also got some help courtesy of Chloe White, who went 1-for-3 with two runs and one double.
Meanwhile, Triway was able to grind out a solid win over Canton South on Wednesday, taking the game 11-6. The Titans haven't had any issues with the Wildcats recently, as the game was their sixth consecutive victory against them.
Kenzie Gatti was a standout: she went 2-for-3 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. Another player making a difference was Myah Lester, who went 3-for-4 with three RBI, two doubles, and one run.
Triway kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 16 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least 11 hits in ten consecutive matchups.
Manchester has been performing incredibly well recently as they've won ten of their last 11 games. That's provided a nice bump to their 12-3 record this season. The wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.4 runs over those games. As for Triway, their victory bumped their record up to 10-4.
Friday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Manchester has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .455. However, it's not like Triway struggles in that department as they've averaged .497. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Manchester was able to grind out a solid win over Triway in their previous meeting on April 3rd, winning 8-4. Do the Panthers have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Titans turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
