vs
| 05/01/24 - Home | 11-1 W |
| 05/04/23 - Away | 5-0 W |
| 03/30/22 - Away | 15-2 W |
| 03/30/21 - Home | 7-6 W |
| 04/17/19 - Away | 14-3 W |
| + 4 more games |
Downingtown East is a perfect 9-0 against Oxford since March of 2015 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Thursday. The Cougars will head out to square off against the Hornets at 3:45 p.m. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
As a matter of fact, Downingtown East put up the most points they have all season on Monday. They were the clear victors by an 11-3 margin over Henderson. Perhaps unsurprisingly given the team's high-flying offense, the game also marked the team's biggest victory of the season.
London Schaefer made a big impact no matter where she played. She struck out six batters over seven innings while giving up three earned runs off eight hits (and not a single walk). Schaefer was also solid in the batter's box, getting on base in four of her five plate appearances with one double.
In other batting news, Sophia Gange was a standout: she went 2-for-4 with one home run, four RBI, and two runs. She also put up a double, which was her first of the season. Madison Baroni was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 3-for-4.
Downingtown East always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .535. The last time their OBP was this high was back in April of 2024.
Oxford not only won on Tuesday, but they posted their biggest win since April 16, 2024. They blew past Tome 13-3.
Like Downingtown East, Oxford also got a great game from a two-way player: Ericka Ortega. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run while striking out six over five innings pitched. Ortega has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts any time she's pitched this season. She was also big at the plate, going a perfect 4-for-4 with four runs, one triple, and two RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Grace Allen, who went 2-for-3 with three runs, one triple, and one double. Another player making a difference was Liliana Van Zyl, who scored two runs while going 2-for-3.
Downingtown East has been performing well recently as they've won three of their last four contests. That's provided a massive bump to their 4-4 record this season. Those wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 6.8 runs over those games. Oxford's first victory this season bumped their record up to 1-7.
Thursday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Downingtown East hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .316. However, it's not like Oxford struggles in that department as they've averaged .328. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Everything went Downingtown East's way against Oxford when the teams last played back in May of 2024, as Downingtown East made off with an 11-1 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Cougars since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
