Niles West was not able to break out of their rough patch on Tuesday as the team picked up their third straight defeat. They were two runs away from ending the streak, but they lost a 5-3 heartbreaker at the hands of the Vernon Hills Cougars. The Wolves were given a dose of their own medicine in this game as the Cougars apparently hadn't forgotten their loss the last time these teams played back in May of 2024.
Lexi Kuffel spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned (and four unearned) runs on eight hits and racked up eight Ks. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Sarah Park made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went 2-for-3 with one home run and two RBI. That home run marked the first that she has launched this season. Penny Hutchison was another key player, going 1-for-3 with one home run.
Niles West's defeat dropped their record down to 6-11. As for Vernon Hills, they have been performing well recently as they've won four of their last five contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 6-15 record this season.
Niles West and Vernon Hills could both be facing uphill battles in their next games considering their disadvantage in the MaxPreps Illinois Rankings. The Wolves will square off against Antioch at 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday with a big rank disadvantage (315 vs. 132). Meanwhile, Vernon Hills (ranked 370th) will meet Maine West (ranked 74th) at 4:45 p.m. on Thursday.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
