Red Wing is 1-7 against Mankato East since May of 2015 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Thursday. The Wingers will be playing at home against the Cougars at 5:00 p.m.
Red Wing is headed into Thursday's matchup looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their sixth straight game on Tuesday. They were two runs away from ending the streak, but they lost a 3-1 heartbreaker at the hands of Century. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest defeat the Wingers have suffered since April 12th.
Miley Clemens made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went a perfect 3-for-3 with one stolen base and one run.
Meanwhile, Mankato East waltzed into their game on Tuesday with four straight wins... but they left with five. They were the clear victors by a 13-3 margin over the Packers. The Cougars might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won nine contests by six runs or more this season.
Kylinn Stangl made a splash no matter where she played. On the mound, she struck out seven batters over six innings while giving up just one earned (and two unearned) runs off three hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in seven consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with three RBI, two runs, and one double.
In other batting news, Maddeline Beaty was a standout: she went a perfect 4-for-4 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one triple. Those four hits gave her a new career-high. Kenley Staunton was another key player, getting on base in three of her four plate appearances with three stolen bases and three runs.
Mankato East kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their hit total in three consecutive matches.
Mankato East's victory was their 13th straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 12-1. Those home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they've averaged 9.7 runs this season. As for Red Wing, their loss dropped their record down to 4-11.
Red Wing suffered a grim 16-1 defeat to Mankato East in their previous meeting back in May of 2024. Will the Wingers have more luck at home instead of on the road? Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other softball content.
