The Orleans Bulldogs will head out to take on the Springs Valley Blackhawks at 5:30 p.m. on Friday. Orleans is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.7 runs per game this season.
Orleans gave up the first runs on Thursday, but they didn't let that get them down. They came out on top against Bloomington North by a score of 7-4. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Bulldogs.
Izzie Rutherford spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered four earned runs on six hits. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than two walks in 15 consecutive appearances.
Maddy Spires
| 05/22/25 vs Bloomington North | 3 |
| 05/21/25 vs Eastern Greene | 2 |
| 04/16/25 vs Mitchell | 1 |
| 04/27/24 @ Mitchell | 1 |
| 04/20/24 vs South Central | 1 |
On the hitting side, Maddy Spires and Ava Cooper did most of the damage at the plate: Spires went 2-for-4 with one home run and three RBI, while Cooper went 2-for-4 with one home run and two RBI. Those three RBI gave Spires a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Elizabeth Mahan, who went 1-for-3 with one run and one RBI.
Orleans was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .387. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Bloomington North only posted a batting average of .214.
Meanwhile, Springs Valley was not able to break out of their rough patch on Thursday as the team picked up their seventh straight loss. They took a 9-5 hit to the loss column at the hands of Salem.
Elliott Wininger was cooking despite her team's loss, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI.
Orleans pushed their record up to 18-6 with the win, which was their fourth straight at home. Those home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.5 runs on average over those games. As for Springs Valley, their defeat dropped their record down to 8-12.
Springs Valley's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Orleans hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .326. It's a different story for Springs Valley, though, as they've only averaged .236. Will they be able to contain Orleans' hitters?
Orleans skirted past Springs Valley 2-0 when the teams last played on May 6th. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Bulldogs since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
