For the second straight game, Eisenhower will face off against Wenatchee. The Cadets will venture away from home to face off against the Panthers at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. Eisenhower has given up an average of 9.3 runs per game this season, but Thursday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Eisenhower managed to slip by Wenatchee the last time these teams faced off, but didn't have those same answers this time around. The Cadets came up short against the Panthers on Tuesday, falling 12-4. Give some credit to the fans of both teams: the last five times they've met, the home team has come away the winner.
For Wenatchee's part, Lauren Waligorski spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned (and two unearned) runs on five hits and racked up six Ks.
At the plate, Wenatchee let Hayden Delayney and Haylee Merz run wild. Delayney went 3-for-4 with four RBI, two doubles, and one run, while Merz went a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBI, two doubles, and one run. Those two doubles gave Merz a new career-high. Adamarie Iniguez was another key player, going 2-for-3 with two runs, one double, and one RBI.
Wenatchee always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .559. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Eisenhower only posted an OBP of .333.
Wenatchee's win was their sixth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 10-10. Those home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 16.2 runs over those games. As for Eisenhower, their loss dropped their record down to 10-12.
Wenatchee's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Eisenhower has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 8.7 hits per game. It's a different story for Wenatchee, though, as they've been averaging 9.1 hits. Given Eisenhower's sizable advantage in that area, the Panthers will need to find a way to close that gap. Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other softball content.
