The Mendenhall Tigers will challenge the Yazoo County Panthers at 6:30 p.m. on Monday. Both come into the match bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
It was a proper cat-fight when Mendenhall took on Morton on Thursday. The Tigers came out on top against the Panthers by a score of 8-3. The win continues a trend for the Tigers in their matchups with the Panthers: they've now won three in a row.
Tyleigh Williams was incredible, going 2-for-3 with three stolen bases, two runs, and one triple. The team also got some help courtesy of Corrine Allen, who scored two runs and stole two bases while going 2-for-3.
Meanwhile, Yazoo County waltzed into their game on Friday with five straight wins... but they left with six. They walked away with an 8-3 victory over Morton.
Lilly Andrews was a major factor no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out ten batters over seven innings while giving up three earned runs off six hits (and not a single walk). She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than seven strikeouts in 12 consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run while going 2-for-4. What's more, she posted two doubles, the most she's had since back in March.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Anna Kiley Leal, who went 1-for-3 with one home run, two stolen bases, and three RBI. She has been hot, having posted at least one stolen base the last five times she's played. Minely Crozier was another key player, getting on base in three of her four plate appearances with two stolen bases, one double, and one RBI.
Yazoo County's win was their 11th straight at home, which pushed their record up to 19-4. Those home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.0 runs on average over those games. As for Mendenhall, their win bumped their record up to 14-7-1.
Monday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Mendenhall has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .503. However, it's not like Yazoo County struggles in that department as they've averaged .566. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Mendenhall took their victory against Yazoo County when the teams last played back in February by a conclusive 16-7 score. Do the Tigers have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Panthers turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
