The Alleman Pioneers will head out on the road to square off against the Sherrard Tigers at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Alleman has given up an average of 8.9 runs per game this season, but Wednesday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Alleman fell victim to East Moline United and their airtight pitching crew on Tuesday. They came up short against the Panthers, falling 11-0. The Pioneers have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Sherrard, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Saturday. They had just enough and edged out Mercer County 5-4. The win continues a trend for the Tigers in their matchups with the Golden Eagles: they've now won seven in a row.
Savanah Hauger spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and one unearned) runs on five hits and racked up eight Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Makensie Westfall was excellent, going 2-for-4 with one run, one double, and one RBI. Another player making a difference was Marisa Neels, who went 1-for-3 with one run, one double, and one RBI.
Sherrard hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. The team has now struck out at least four batters in four consecutive contests.
Alleman's loss dropped their record down to 5-12. As for Sherrard, their victory was their first in the conference, bumping their conference record up to 1-2 and their overall record up to 11-3.
Wednesday's match will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Alleman hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .327. However, it's not like Sherrard struggles in that department as they've averaged .353. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Alleman couldn't quite get it done against Sherrard in their previous matchup back in May of 2024 as they fell 7-3. Can the Pioneers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
