Fairfield Central is 0-4 against Newberry since March of 2019 but things could change on Monday. The Griffins will head out on the road to face off against the Bulldogs at 5:30 p.m. Fairfield Central knows how to get runs on the board -- the team has finished with ten runs or more in their past five contests -- so hopefully Newberry likes a good challenge.
Last Thursday, Fairfield Central made easy work of Eau Claire and carried off a 17-2 victory. The win continues a trend for the Griffins in their matchups with the Shamrocks: they've now won three in a row.
Myah McMillan made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out seven batters over three innings while giving up just two earned runs but no hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two hits in three consecutive appearances. She was even better at the plate, getting on base in all four of her plate appearances with three runs, three RBI, and one triple. Those RBI marked the first that she brought in this season.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Aaliyah Lyles, who scored two runs and stole two bases while getting on base in all three of her plate appearances. Another player making a difference was Niyah Morgan, who went a perfect 1-for-1 with two runs and one triple.
Fairfield Central always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .846. That was just more of the same: they've now posted an OBP of .600 or higher in four consecutive games.
Meanwhile, after only two runs in their last matchup, Newberry made sure to put some runs up on the board against Keenan on Friday. The Bulldogs were the clear victors by a 22-1 margin over the Raiders. The victory was a breath of fresh air for the Bulldogs as it put an end to their six-game losing streak.
Like Fairfield Central, Newberry also got a great game from a two-way player: Sydney West. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out nine over four innings pitched. West was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-4 with two RBI and one double.
In other batting news, Kaydee Rivers was incredible, getting on base in all five of her plate appearances with one home run, five RBI, and three runs. Courtney Scurry was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing three bases while going 3-for-3.
Fairfield Central's win was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 5-3. The home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 17.3 runs over those games. As for Newberry, the win was their first on the road , bumping their record up to 2-6.
Monday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Fairfield Central has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .662. However, it's not like Newberry struggles in that department as they've averaged .441. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Fairfield Central might still be hurting after the 22-6 loss they got from Newberry in their previous meeting back in April of 2022. Can the Griffins avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
