Strasburg has gone a perfect 3-0 against Luray recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Thursday. The Rams will face off against the Bulldogs at 6:00 p.m. Strasburg's pitching crew has only allowed 3.3 runs per game this season, so Luray's hitters will have their work cut out for them.
Strasburg easily dispatched Rappahannock County last Tuesday, but unfortunately both the margin and the ultimate result were a different story in this one. The Rams fell just short of Page County by a score of 4-2 on Tuesday. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest loss the Rams have suffered against the Panthers since April 21, 2023.
Ava Mayhew
| 04/04/25 vs Stonewall Jackson | 5 |
| 03/18/25 @ Sherando | 7 |
| 04/03/25 @ Moorefield | 7 |
| 04/01/25 @ Fort Defiance | 9 |
| 04/08/25 @ Rappahannock County | 10 |
Ava Mayhew spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and one unearned) runs on eight hits and racked up 18 Ks. Those 18 strikeouts set a new season-high mark for her.
At the plate, Strasburg saw four different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Karaline Brill, who went 1-for-3 with one home run.
Meanwhile, Luray hadn't done well against East Hardy recently (they were 0-3 in their previous three matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Tuesday. The Bulldogs narrowly escaped with a win as the squad sidled past the Cougars 13-11.
The team relied heavily on Emilee Hassett, who scored two runs and stole two bases while getting on base in four of her five plate appearances. Madelyn Alger also deserves some recognition as she got her first hit of the season.
Strasburg's defeat dropped their record down to 5-4. As for Luray, their victory ended an 11-game drought on the road dating back to last season and puts them at 2-5.
Luray's hitters will have their work cut out for them on Thursday. Strasburg has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 11.6 strikeouts per game. It's a different story for Luray, though, as they've been averaging only 3.9 strikeouts. Will Strasburg keep running through batters, or will the Bulldogs buck the trend?
Everything went Strasburg's way against Luray in their previous meeting back in May of 2024, as Strasburg made off with a 20-0 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Rams since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
