The Cardinal Huskies will head out to take on the Hillsdale Falcons at 5:00 p.m. on Monday. Cardinal has given up an average of 12.6 runs per game this season, but Monday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Cardinal took a 17-run loss the last time they faced off against Newton Falls, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. The Huskies won by a run and slipped past the Tigers 12-11.
Natalie Soltis spent all eight innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered 11 runs (all of which were unearned) on seven hits and racked up eight Ks.
On the hitting side, Maggie Grant was a standout: she got on base in four of her five plate appearances with two stolen bases, three runs, and two RBI. Another player making a difference was Emily Pleva, who went 2-for-4 with three stolen bases and four runs.
Meanwhile, Hillsdale posted their closest win since April 14th on Saturday. They had just enough and edged out Perry 3-2.
Hillsdale saw five different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Jordyn Fickes, who went 1-for-3 with two RBI and one double. Laci Huber was another, going 1-for-3 with one triple and one RBI.
Hillsdale hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. They are a perfect 11-0 when they post two or more strikeouts.
Hillsdale is on a roll lately: they've won three of their last four matchups. That's provided a nice bump to their 17-7 record this season. The victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.5 runs on average over those games. As for Cardinal, their record now sits at 8-10-1.
Monday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Cardinal hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .318. However, it's not like Hillsdale struggles in that department as they've averaged .367. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
