The McMichael Phoenix will venture away from home to square off against the Bartlett Yancey Buccaneers at 6:00 p.m. on Monday. McMichael is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.6 runs per game this season.
McMichael took a loss when they played away from home on Wednesday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Thursday. They walked away with a 7-4 win over Bethany Community. The Phoenix haven't had any issues with the Wolves recently, as the game was their sixth consecutive victory against them.
Lindsay Redmon spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned (and two unearned) runs on six hits and racked up eight Ks.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Samantha Hopson, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, four RBI, and one stolen base. Another player making a difference was Olivia Wilson, who went 1-for-4 with one home run.
McMichael was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .400. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .308 or higher in seven consecutive contests.
Meanwhile, Bartlett Yancey was not able to break out of their rough patch on Wednesday as the team picked up their fifth straight defeat. They lost 17-2 to Southeast Alamance. Having soared to a lofty 11 runs in the game before, the Buccaneers couldn't push the score so high this time.
Savana Gibbs made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went a perfect 2-for-2 with two RBI and one double.
McMichael's win was their fourth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 14-3. Those home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 11.5 runs over those games. As for Bartlett Yancey, their loss dropped their record down to 1-8.
Monday's match might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. McMichael has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .445. However, it's not like Bartlett Yancey struggles in that department as they've averaged .462. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Everything went McMichael's way against Bartlett Yancey in their previous meeting back in March of 2022, as McMichael made off with an 11-0 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Phoenix since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
