The Brookside Cardinals are taking a road trip to challenge the Black River Pirates at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Brookside is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.7 runs per game this season.
Last Tuesday, Brookside came up short against Columbia and fell 8-5.
Khloe Racz was cooking despite her team's loss, earning two runs and two stolen bases.
Meanwhile, Black River came tearing into Friday's game with three straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 7 runs), and they left with even more momentum. Everything went their way against the Raiders as they made off with a 10-3 victory. The Pirates might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won six matchups by six runs or more this season.
Abbey Kiser made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she tossed seven innings while giving up just one earned (and two unearned) runs off nine hits. Kiser was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI.
Kiser wasn't the only one making solid contact as seven players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Giuliana Hulesch, who went 2-for-3 with one home run, two runs, and one triple. That's the most runs Hulesch has posted since back in March. Mia Rosales was another, going 2-for-3 with two RBI.
Black River kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in three consecutive contests.
Black River's win was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 8-5. The home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.0 runs on average over those games. As for Brookside, they have been struggling recently as they've lost six of their last seven games. That's put a noticeable dent in their 3-8 record this season.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Tuesday as neither team is afraid to steal. Brookside has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 5.6 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Black River struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 3.7 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Brookside might still be hurting after the 14-5 loss they got from Black River in their previous matchup two weeks ago. Can the Cardinals avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
