The Hernando Leopards will face off against the Nature Coast Tech Sharks at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. One thing working in Hernando's favor is that they have posted at least ten runs in their last four matches.
Hernando's pitching crew heads into the game hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Wednesday. They put the hurt on Bishop McLaughlin Catholic with a sharp 18-0 victory. While the Leopards didn't have the best season last year (they finished 6-19), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.
Addisyn Slocum and Murphi Blade did most of the damage at the plate: Slocum went a perfect 2-for-2 with three runs, three RBI, and one triple, while Blade went a perfect 1-for-1 with one home run, four RBI, and two runs. That triple marked the first that Slocum hit this season. Ariana Covell was another key player, scoring two runs while getting on base in all three of her plate appearances.
Hernando was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .692. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .333 or higher in four consecutive contests.
Meanwhile, Nature Coast Tech earned a 6-3 win over Zephyrhills on Thursday. The victory continues a trend for the Sharks in their matchups with the Bulldogs: they've now won six in a row.
Kamryn Ross spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned runs on four hits and racked up six Ks.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Lilyana Noguez, who scored a run while going 1-for-2. The team also got some help courtesy of Miranda Wiemer, who scored two runs while going 1-for-3.
Hernando's win was their fifth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 4-1. Those victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 0.2 runs over those games. As for Nature Coast Tech, they now have a winning record of 3-2.
Friday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Hernando hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .410. However, it's not like Nature Coast Tech struggles in that department as they've averaged .321. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Hernando couldn't quite finish off Nature Coast Tech when the teams last played back in February of 2024 and fell 4-2. Will Hernando have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
