The Hico Tigers will head out to challenge the Frost Polar Bears at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. The teams are on pretty different trajectories at the moment (Hico has three straight wins, Frost has three straight losses), but none of that matters once you're on the field.
Hico took a 16-run defeat the last time they faced off against Italy, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. The Tigers had just enough and edged out the Gladiators 14-13. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Tigers have posted since May 4, 2024.
Mikaelynn Miles made a splash no matter where she played. On the mound, she tossed seven innings while giving up three earned (and ten unearned) runs off 12 hits. Miles was also big at the plate, scoring two runs while going 2-for-5.
Hayde Silva
| 04/01/25 @ Italy | 3 |
| 03/28/25 @ Itasca | 1 |
| 03/25/25 @ Meridian | 1 |
| 03/19/25 vs Rio Vista | 1 |
| 03/18/25 vs Frost | 1 |
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Hayde Silva, who got on base in all five of her plate appearances with five RBI, two runs, and one double. The dominant performance also gave her a new career-high in hits (three). Addyson Swank was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing a base while getting on base in all five of her plate appearances.
Hico always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .533. That was just more of the same: they've now posted an OBP of .500 or higher in three consecutive matches.
Meanwhile, Tuesday just wasn't the day for Frost's offense. They came up short against Rio Vista on Tuesday, falling 16-0. That's two games in a row now that the Polar Bears have lost by exactly 16 runs.
Hico's win was their fourth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 5-7. The team dominated over that stretch too, winning by an average of 11 runs. As for Frost, their loss dropped their record down to 2-10.
Friday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Hico has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .451. However, it's not like Frost struggles in that department as they've averaged .533. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Hico took their victory against Frost in their previous meeting two weeks ago by a conclusive 15-0 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Tigers since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
