The Marion County Knights will venture away from home to square off against the Bethlehem Eagles/Banshees at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. Marion County is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.4 runs per game this season.
The scorekeeper got an easy start on Tuesday as neither Marion County nor Adair County made it on the board until the fifth inning. The Knights walked away with a 6-3 win over the Indians.
Gracyn Mattingly
| 05/06/25 vs Adair County | 0 |
| 05/01/25 vs Green County | 1 |
| 04/28/25 @ Campbellsville | 1 |
Gracyn Mattingly spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned (and one unearned) runs on five hits and racked up nine Ks. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than one walk in three consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Tori Gribbins, who went 2-for-4 with one home run, four RBI, and one double. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in March. Another player making a difference was Kendra Gaddie, who went a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs, one stolen base, and one double.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Marion County kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least ten hits in four consecutive contests.
Meanwhile, Bethlehem didn't have quite enough to beat Nelson County on Wednesday and fell 2-1. The loss continues a trend for the Eagles/Banshees in their meetings with the Cardinals: they've now lost three in a row.
Bethlehem's defeat dropped their record down to 21-15. As for Marion County, their record is now 10-6.
Thursday's match might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Marion County has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .436. However, it's not like Bethlehem struggles in that department as they've averaged .443. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Marion County couldn't quite get it done against Bethlehem in their previous meeting back in March of 2022 as they fell 6-3. Can the Knights avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
