The Lawson Lightning will face off against the Overton Bobcats at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Lawson will be looking to extend their current five-game winning streak.
On Tuesday, Lawson needed a bit of extra time to put away McGavock. They narrowly escaped with a victory as the team sidled past the Raiders 8-7.
Addyson Freeman spent all eight innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered five earned (and two unearned) runs on seven hits and racked up 11 Ks.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Livian Martin, who went 3-for-5 with two stolen bases, three runs, and two doubles. Those two doubles gave her a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Isabella Batts, who went 3-for-5 with one triple and two RBI.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Lawson kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. That's a new trend for them: they were averaging 4.7 hits per game earlier this season, but in their last 15 games they've averaged 11.8.
Meanwhile, Overton never let their opponents score on Monday. They were the clear victors by a 20-0 margin over Hillsboro. The result was nothing new for the Bobcats, who have now won seven contests by eight runs or more so far this season.
Kali Gray was a major factor no matter where she played. On the mound, she struck out nine batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits (and not a single walk). She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts any time she's pitched this season. She was also big at the plate, getting on base in three of her four plate appearances with three runs, one double, and one RBI.
In other batting news, Trista Norris was incredible, going 3-for-4 with one home run, five RBI, and two runs. Hana Kajihara was another key player, going a perfect 3-for-3 with three stolen bases, two runs, and two RBI.
Lawson's win bumped their record up to 7-4. As for Overton, their victory bumped their record up to 7-3.
Thursday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Lawson has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .534. However, it's not like Overton struggles in that department as they've averaged .598. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Lawson might still be hurting after the 17-7 loss they got from Overton when the teams last played back in March. Will the Lightning have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
