The Jefferson Eagles will venture away from home to take on the Brodhead Cardinals at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. Jefferson's pitching crew has only allowed 1.5 runs per game this season, so Brodhead's hitters will have their work cut out for them.
While Jefferson's victory against Waterloo wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Eagles won by a run and slipped past the Pirates 4-3.
Aeryn Messmann
| 05/06/25 vs Waterloo | 5 |
| 04/10/25 vs Lake Mills | 8 |
Aeryn Messmann made a splash no matter where she played. She tossed four innings while giving up just one earned run off three hits. What's more, she posted five strikeouts, the most she's had since back in April. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one run and one double.
Messmann wasn't the only one making solid contact as three players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Ashlyn Enke, who went 1-for-3 with two RBI and one double.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Brodhead). They were the clear victors by a 14-0 margin over Edgerton on Thursday. The win was nothing new for the Cardinals as they're now sitting on three straight.
Like Jefferson, Brodhead also got a great game from a two-way player: Ava Risum. On the mound, she kept things locked down with no earned runs or hits while striking out 12 over five innings pitched. Risum has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than two walks in 14 consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going a perfect 4-for-4 with three runs, three RBI, and two doubles.
In other batting news, Mady Henning was incredible, going 3-for-4 with five RBI and two runs. Another player making a difference was Tatum Ceslok, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBI, one run, and one double.
Brodhead kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 17 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least ten hits in three consecutive matches.
Jefferson's record is now 15-3. As for Brodhead, their record now sits at 12-3.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Friday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Jefferson has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 10.8 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Brodhead struggles in that department as they've been averaging 12.4 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
