Riverdale hasn't had much luck against Iowa-Grant recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Chieftains will be playing at home against the Panthers at 4:30 p.m. Riverdale knows how to get runs on the board -- the squad has finished with ten runs or more in their past three matchups -- so hopefully Iowa-Grant likes a good challenge.
On Thursday, Riverdale made easy work of Darlington and carried off a 12-1 win. The result was nothing new for the Chieftains, who have now won eight games by six runs or more so far this season.
Riverdale got a massive performance out of Lily Barr, who went 2-for-3 with one home run and two runs. The team also got some help courtesy of Bailey Harris, who went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, three runs, and one RBI.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Riverdale kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 15 hits. They are a perfect 10-0 when they post 11 or more hits.
Meanwhile, after soaring to 12 runs the game before, Iowa-Grant was a bit more limited in their contest on Thursday. They took a 4-1 hit to the loss column at the hands of Mineral Point. The Panthers haven't had much luck with the Pointers recently, as the team has come up short the last four times they've met.
Riverdale pushed their record up to 12-8 with the victory, which was their third straight at home. Those home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 0.7 runs on average over those games. As for Iowa-Grant, their defeat dropped their record down to 13-6.
Iowa-Grant's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Riverdale hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .362. It's a different story for Iowa-Grant, though, as they've only averaged .255. Will they be able to contain Riverdale's hitters?
Riverdale suffered a grim 13-3 defeat to Iowa-Grant in their previous matchup back in May of 2025. Will the Chieftains have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.