Shady Side Academy is 0-5 against South Allegheny since March of 2015 but things could change on Friday. The Bulldogs will face off against the Gladiators at 4:00 p.m. Shady Side Academy has given up an average of 15.2 runs per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Shady Side Academy is headed into Friday's contest looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their fourth straight game on Wednesday. They came up short against Brentwood, falling 15-5.
Monique-Claire Fosung was cooking despite her team's loss, going 1-for-2 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run. Jazmine Johnson also deserves some recognition as she hit her first double of the season.
Meanwhile, South Allegheny came tearing into Wednesday's match with seven straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 11.9 runs), and they left with even more momentum. Their pitcher stepped up to hand the Dynamos a 16-0 shutout. The result was nothing new for the Gladiators, who have now won eight games by six runs or more so far this season.
Cadence McBride and Cameran Colecchi did most of the damage at the plate: McBride went a perfect 4-for-4 with one home run, five RBI, and two doubles, while Colecchi went 3-for-4 with three stolen bases, three runs, and one triple. The team also got some help courtesy of Sydney Gordon, who got on base in two of her four plate appearances with two stolen bases, two runs, and one RBI.
South Allegheny was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .607. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .400 or higher in four consecutive contests.
South Allegheny's victory was their sixth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 11-1. As for Shady Side Academy, their loss dropped their record down to 1-7.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Friday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Shady Side Academy has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.8 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like South Allegheny struggles in that department as they've been averaging 7.4 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Shady Side Academy might still be hurting after the 16-0 defeat they got from South Allegheny in their previous meeting two weeks ago. Can the Bulldogs avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
