South Medford has gone a perfect 10-0 against Willamette recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Tuesday. The Panthers will welcome the Wolverines at 4:30 p.m. South Medford will be looking to extend their current six-game winning streak.
While South Medford's victory against Grants Pass wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Panthers sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 5-4 win over the Cavemen on Saturday. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Panthers have posted since March 25th.
Jordan Knutson
| 05/10/25 @ Grants Pass | 1 |
| 05/05/25 @ Willamette | 0 |
| 05/03/25 vs Sheldon | 1 |
| 05/03/25 vs Sheldon | 1 |
Jordan Knutson spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned (and three unearned) runs on six hits and racked up 12 Ks. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than one earned run in four consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Dannika Ostvik was excellent, going 3-for-4 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI. The team also got some help courtesy of Hanna Turpin, who got on base in all three of her plate appearances with one run.
Willamette came out on top against North Salem on Friday thanks in part to the team's impressive 12-run first inning. The Wolverines were the clear victors by a 16-1 margin over the Vikings. The result was nothing new for the Wolverines, who have now won eight matches by eight runs or more so far this season.
Jadynn Ireland made a splash no matter where she played. On the mound, she struck out nine batters over four innings while giving up just one earned run off two hits (and not a single walk). Ireland was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with three RBI, two runs, and one stolen base. That's the most runs she has posted since back in April.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Cabbi Eads, who went 3-for-4 with three runs, four RBI, and one double. That's the most runs she has posted since back in March. Kimmie Smith was another key player, going 1-for-2 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI.
South Medford pushed their record up to 15-7 with the win, which was their fifth straight on the road. The road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 8.8 runs over those games. As for Willamette, the win made it two in a row for them and bumps their season record up to 10-12.
Tuesday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. South Medford hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .366. However, it's not like Willamette struggles in that department as they've averaged .343. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Everything went South Medford's way against Willamette when the teams last played on Monday, as South Medford made off with a 10-4 victory. Do the Panthers have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Wolverines turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
