The Bozeman Bucks will face off against the Freeport Bulldogs at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. The two teams are sauntering into the matchup backed by comfortable wins in their prior games.
Last Wednesday, Bozeman got the win against Vernon by a conclusive 16-1. The win continues a trend for the Bucks in their matchups with the Yellowjackets: they've now won eight in a row.
Kinsey Bruhmuller and Karlee McLean did most of the damage at the plate: Bruhmuller scored three runs and stole five bases while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances, while McLean scored three runs and stole two bases while going 3-for-4. What's more, McLean posted two doubles, the most she's had since back in February of 2024. Presley Thomason was another key player, scoring three runs and stealing two bases while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.
Bozeman always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .676. They are a perfect 5-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Meanwhile, while Freeport put up plenty of runs on Thursday, the same can't be said for Vernon. The Bulldogs put the hurt on the Yellowjackets with a sharp 17-0 victory. With that win, the Bulldogs brought their scoring average up to 6.7 runs per game.
Kaylee Carroll was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run over four innings pitched. Carroll was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with two RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Kayla Stephens, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with five RBI, three doubles, and two runs. Another player making a difference was Corissa Duggar, who scored three runs and stole a base while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.
Freeport's victory was their third straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 7-7. The road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 11.0 runs over those games. As for Bozeman, their victory bumped their record up to 10-6.
Friday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Bozeman hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .365. However, it's not like Freeport struggles in that department as they've averaged .353. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Bozeman beat Freeport 9-6 in their previous matchup back in February. Do the Bucks have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Bulldogs turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
