The Arnold Marlins will challenge the Fort Walton Beach Vikings at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. Arnold is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.9 runs per game this season.
Arnold is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Tuesday. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 2-1 victory over Baker County. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Marlins.
Bre Clark
| 05/13/25 vs Baker County | 9 |
| 05/07/25 @ Clay | 13 |
| 04/30/25 vs Fort Walton Beach | 12 |
| 04/28/25 vs Choctawhatchee | 18 |
| 04/22/25 @ Holmes County | 12 |
| + 4 more games |
The result came thanks to Bre Clark's shutout, as she gave up just three hits and racked up nine Ks. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't tossed less than eight strikeouts in nine consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Arnold's win was truly a team effort as three different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Hayley Sexton, who went 1-for-4 with one double and one RBI.
Meanwhile, Fort Walton Beach came tearing into Tuesday's match with five straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 8 runs), and they left with even more momentum. They came within a single run of losing the streak, but they secured a 4-3 W against the Tigers.
Rilyn Douglas spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned (and one unearned) runs on seven hits.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Alyx Hall, who went 1-for-4 with one home run. Another player making a difference was Macy Borgen, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Fort Walton Beach kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They are a perfect 14-0 when they post 11 or more hits.
Fort Walton Beach's victory was their fourth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 20-8. The home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.3 runs on average over those games. As for Arnold, their record now sits at 19-8.
Fort Walton Beach's hitters will have their work cut out for them on Thursday. Arnold has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 9.7 strikeouts per game. It's a different story for Fort Walton Beach, though, as they've been averaging only 3.9 strikeouts. Will Arnold keep running through batters, or will the Vikings buck the trend? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
