Litchfield is 0-10 against Gillespie since April of 2017 but things could change on Friday. The Purple Panthers will host the Miners at 4:30 p.m. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Litchfield took a loss when they played away from home on Wednesday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Thursday. They were the clear victors by a 10-3 margin over Vandalia. The Purple Panthers haven't had any issues with the Vandals recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive victory against them.
The team relied heavily on Chloe Green, who went 2-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in March. Alexis Mielke was another key player, going 1-for-3 with two runs, one double, and one RBI.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Litchfield kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Vandalia only managed six hits.
Meanwhile, Gillespie waltzed into their contest on Thursday with three straight wins... but they left with four. They came within a single run of losing the streak, but they secured a 2-1 W against the Cyclones.
Sadie Sholtis spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on five hits and racked up nine Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one walk in three consecutive appearances.
Gillespie's win was their tenth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 18-6. The home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.1 runs on average over those games. As for Litchfield, their win bumped their record up to 9-12.
Litchfield might still be hurting after the 11-1 defeat they got from Gillespie when the teams last played back in April. Will the Purple Panthers have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
