Smithfield is 2-8 against Cranston West since April of 2015 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Thursday. The Sentinels are taking a road trip to take on the Falcons at 4:30 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
On Wednesday, Smithfield needed a bit of extra time to put away Ponaganset. They blew past the Chieftains 14-6. The win continues a trend for the Sentinels in their matchups with the Chieftains: they've now won four in a row.
Maddie Bose spent all eight innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered six earned runs on 12 hits and racked up ten Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one walk in four consecutive appearances.
Lily Riggin
| 05/14/25 @ Ponaganset | 5 |
| 04/03/25 @ East Providence | 4 |
| 05/07/24 @ East Providence | 4 |
| 04/24/25 vs Westerly | 3 |
| 05/14/24 vs East Greenwich | 3 |
At the plate, Lily Riggin was incredible, going 4-for-6 with one home run, five RBI, and two runs. Those five RBI gave her a new career-high. Joy Matteson was another key player, going 2-for-4 with three RBI, two runs, and one double.
Smithfield always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .531. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Ponaganset only posted an OBP of .343.
Meanwhile, Cranston West faced East Providence in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Wednesday. The Falcons were the clear victors by an 11-5 margin over the Townies. The home team had taken home the W every time these teams have met since May 11, 2021, but that streak is no more.
Mia Crudale made a splash no matter where she played. She tossed three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Crudale was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with one home run and two runs.
In other pitching news, Mia Sampaio looked comfortable as she didn't allow a single earned run over four innings pitched.
Back at the plate, the team relied heavily on Ava Iannelli, who went 2-for-3 with one home run, three runs, and one stolen base. Another player making a difference was Mia Baffoni, who went 1-for-4 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI.
Smithfield's victory bumped their record up to 9-5. As for Cranston West, their win bumped their record up to 9-6.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Thursday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Smithfield has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.8 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Cranston West struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 6.8 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Smithfield suffered a grim 11-1 defeat to Cranston West in their previous meeting back in April of 2024. Can the Sentinels avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
