The Massac County Patriots will square off against the Carterville Lions at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. The squads are rolling into the game with opposing streaks: Massac County has struggled recently with three defeats in a row, while Carterville will arrive with seven straight wins.
Things were looking good for Massac County after they put the first runs on the board on Saturday, but unfortunately for them things went downhill from there. They lost 15-3 to Murphysboro.
Hannah Edwards made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and scored two runs while going 3-for-3. Kaylee Jones was another key player, going 2-for-3 with one double and one RBI.
Meanwhile, Carterville faced Tolono Unity in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Saturday. The Lions narrowly escaped with a victory as the team sidled past the Rockets 5-3. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Lions have posted since June 1, 2024.
Caidence Phillips made a big impact no matter where she played. On the mound, she struck out 14 batters over seven innings while giving up three earned runs off four hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than nine strikeouts in nine consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-2 with three RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Colbie Bennett, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs, two doubles, and one triple. That's the most doubles she has posted over her last 12 matches. Another player making a difference was Kendall McCalla, who went 1-for-2 with one triple and one run.
Carterville's victory was their 24th straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 11-2. Those home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 0.8 runs on average over those games. As for Massac County, their loss dropped their record down to 3-8.
Massac County might still be hurting after the 9-1 defeat they got from Carterville in their previous meeting back in April of 2024. Will the Patriots 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.
