Newburyport is 6-1 against Ipswich since May of 2015 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Wednesday. The Clippers will host the Tigers at 4:00 p.m. Newburyport is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.5 runs per game this season.
While Newburyport's victory against Hamilton-Wenham Regional wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Clippers narrowly escaped with a win as the team sidled past the Generals 5-4. The Clippers haven't had any issues with the Generals recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive victory against them.
Clara Thompson
| 04/04/25 vs Methuen | 4 |
| 04/09/25 @ Lynnfield | 9 |
| 04/11/25 vs Triton Regional | 10 |
| 04/14/25 @ Hamilton-Wenham Regional | 13 |
Clara Thompson spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered four earned runs on six hits and racked up 13 Ks. Those 13 strikeouts set a new season-high mark for her.
At the plate, Newburyport saw five different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Cassidy Balcome, who scored a run and stole two bases while going 1-for-3. Balcome is crushing it when it comes to stolen bases: she's snagged at least one every time she's taken the field this season. Bella Gemme was another, scoring a run while going 2-for-4.
Meanwhile, Ipswich came up short against Manchester Essex on Friday, falling 16-7. The loss continues a trend for the Tigers in their meetings with the Hornets: they've now lost four in a row.
Ava Poire made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and scored three runs and stole two bases while going 3-for-3. The team also got some help courtesy of Elin Roberts, who scored a run while going 1-for-4.
The win got Newburyport back to even at 2-2. As for Ipswich, they now have a losing record of 1-2.
Newburyport's speedy runners might be the difference in Wednesday's game. The Clippers have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 4.5 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Ipswich, though, as they've been averaging only 1.3 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Newburyport continue to outrun the ball?
Newburyport took their victory against Ipswich in their previous meeting back in April of 2024 by a conclusive 14-0 score. Will the Clippers repeat their success, or do the Tigers have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
