Poquoson is on a four-game streak of home wins, while New Kent is on a four-game streak of away wins: one of those streaks is about to end. The Islanders will host the Trojans at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Poquoson 3.9, New Kent 2.6) so any runs scored will be well earned.
Poquoson proved they can win big on Tuesday (they won by 19) and on Thursday they proved they can win the close ones too. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 3-1 win over Warhill. The victory continues a trend for the Islanders in their matchups with the Lions: they've now won six in a row.
Natalie Klochak spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on six hits. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Tinley Goodson was excellent, going 2-for-4 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI. The team also got some help courtesy of Brooklyn Mason, who got on base in two of her four plate appearances with two stolen bases and one run.
Meanwhile, New Kent's hitters rose to the challenge against a Lions pitching crew that boasted an average of only 2.94 runs allowed on Tuesday. The Trojans put the hurt on Warhill with a sharp 10-1 win. Considering the Trojans have won 15 matchups by more than seven runs this season, Tuesday's blowout was nothing new.
Abbie Kegley was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She tossed seven innings while giving up just one earned run off five hits. Kegley was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with one home run and four RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Hannah Tober, who went 2-for-3 with one home run, three runs, and two RBI. Another player making a difference was Mariah Leonard, who went 3-for-4 with three runs and one double.
New Kent is on a roll lately: they've won 13 of their last 15 games. That's provided a nice bump to their 17-3 record this season. Those victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.1 runs on average over those games. As for Poquoson, their win bumped their record up to 17-2.
Poquoson's speedy runners might be the difference in Tuesday's contest. The Islanders have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.7 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for New Kent, though, as they've been averaging only 1 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Poquoson continue to outrun the ball?
Poquoson suffered a grim 11-1 defeat to New Kent when the teams last played back in April. Will the Islanders 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.
