The Janesville Parker Vikings will venture away from home to challenge the Turner Trojans at 5:00 p.m. on Monday. The last three games Janesville Parker has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.
Janesville Parker 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 narrowly escaped with a win as the squad sidled past Madison West 8-6. The victory was some much needed relief for the Vikings as it spelled an end to their six-game losing streak.
Lilly Keller spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and three unearned) runs on five hits and racked up seven Ks.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Delaney King, who went 2-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI. Donnavee Kong also deserves some recognition as she hit her first triple of the season.
Meanwhile, Turner beat Evansville 6-1 on Thursday. The win continues a trend for the Trojans in their matchups with the Blue Devils: they've now won nine in a row.
Turner also let their pitcher toss all seven innings and she was also dialed-in: Olyvia Piranio gave up a run (which was unearned) on two hits and racked up 12 Ks. Piranio has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than one walk any time she's pitched this season.
On the hitting side, Maddy Hoenig and Autumn Meris did most of the damage at the plate: Hoenig went 2-for-4 with two runs and one double, while Meris went 2-for-4 with two RBI and one double. Another player making a difference was Jayden Pozzani, who went 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI.
Turner kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They are a perfect 3-0 when they post 11 or more hits.
Janesville Parker's record is now 3-7. As for Turner, they picked up their first road victory, bumping their record up to 4-2.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Monday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Janesville Parker has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 6.6 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Turner struggles in that department as they've been averaging 8.3 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Janesville Parker couldn't quite finish off Turner in their previous matchup back in April of 2024 and fell 6-4. Can the Vikings avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
