Nickerson is 2-8 against Hesston since April of 2021 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Tuesday. The Panthers will face off against the Swathers at 4:00 p.m. Nickerson has given up an average of 13.5 runs per game this season, but Tuesday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Friday just wasn't the day for Nickerson's offense. They came up short against Pratt on Friday, falling 23-0. The game marked the first time this year in which the Panthers were not able to get on the board.
Nickerson saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Mayci Terhune, who went a perfect 1-for-1 with one stolen base.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Hesston, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Friday. They never let Remington get on the board and left with a 15-0 win on Monday. That 15-run margin sets a new team best for the Swathers this season.
Elyse Griffin made a splash no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, pitching 2.2 innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. Griffin was also big at the plate, going a perfect 2-for-2 with three runs, two doubles, and one RBI.
In other batting news, Karman Carson was a standout: she got on base in all three of her plate appearances with one triple, two RBI, and one run. That triple marked the first that she has hit this season. Maddy Hiebert was another key player, going a perfect 1-for-1 with three RBI, two runs, and one triple.
Hesston always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .667. The last time their OBP was this high was back in April of 2025.
Hesston's victory was their sixth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 8-5. The home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 11.3 runs over those games. As for Nickerson, their loss dropped their record down to 4-10.
Tuesday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Nickerson has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .535. However, it's not like Hesston struggles in that department as they've averaged .437. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Nickerson suffered a grim 22-3 defeat to Hesston in their previous matchup back in April of 2025. Can the Panthers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
