South Eugene is 2-8 against South Medford since May of 2019 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Tuesday. The Axe will host the Panthers at 4:30 p.m. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
South Eugene took a 16-run loss the last time they faced off against Willamette, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. The Axe sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 10-8 win over the Wolverines on Saturday. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Axe have posted since May 6, 2024.
Meanwhile, South Medford entered their tilt with Willamette on Monday with three consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with four. They were the clear victors by a 10-4 margin over the Wolverines. The result was nothing new for the Panthers, who have now won nine games by six runs or more so far this season.
Aliyah Gomez spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered four earned runs on three hits and racked up 12 Ks.
On the hitting side, Aubree Joe was incredible, going 3-for-4 with three runs, one stolen base, and one double. She is on a roll when it comes to hits, as she's now got three or more in each of the last three games she's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Hanna Turpin, who went 2-for-4 with four RBI and one run.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: South Medford kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 15 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least nine hits in four consecutive matchups.
South Medford's win was their third straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 13-7. Those road victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.7 runs on average over those games. As for South Eugene, their win ended a seven-game drought at home and bumped them up to 3-15.
South Eugene suffered a grim 23-0 defeat to South Medford in their previous meeting back in April. Will the Axe have more luck at home instead of on the road? Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other softball content.
