The Temple Wildcats will challenge the Copperas Cove Bulldawgs at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Both come into the match bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Temple barely beat Bryan the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Wildcats were the clear victors by a 13-3 margin over the Vikings on Friday. The result was nothing new for the Wildcats, who have now won seven games by six runs or more so far this season.
Brooke Knox made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she pitched five innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off six hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in 13 consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with two RBI.
In other batting news, Madyson Combs was a standout: she went 3-for-4 with two runs, one triple, and one stolen base. Another player making a difference was Glory Foreman, who went 1-for-3 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI.
Meanwhile, it may have taken eight innings to finish the job, but Copperas Cove ultimately got the result they hoped for on Friday. They had just enough and edged out Shoemaker 2-1. The victory was familiar territory for the Bulldawgs, who have now won four contests in a row.
Janell Gray spent all eight innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on five hits and racked up 12 Ks.
At the plate, Copperas Cove saw two different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Isabella Hunt, who scored two runs while going 1-for-3.
Copperas Cove's win was their fifth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 14-7. The home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 0.8 runs on average over those games. As for Temple, they have been performing well recently as they've won three of their last four matchups. That's provided a nice bump to their 12-9-1 record this season.
Tuesday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Temple has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .452. However, it's not like Copperas Cove struggles in that department as they've averaged .497. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Temple might still be hurting after the 9-2 defeat they got from Copperas Cove when the teams last played back in March. Will the Wildcats have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
