vs
| 04/12/24 - Home | 10-0 W |
| 04/14/23 - Away | 14-2 W |
| 04/15/22 - Home | 12-1 W |
| 05/14/21 - Away | 15-0 W |
Herscher is a perfect 4-0 against Gardner-South Wilmington since May of 2021 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Friday. The Tigers will take on the Panthers at 4:30 p.m. Herscher has given up an average of 8 runs per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
On Thursday, Herscher didn't have quite enough to beat El Paso-Gridley and fell 21-20.
Herscher got a massive performance out of Addy Whitaker, who went 3-for-6 with four runs, three RBI, and one double. The team also got some help courtesy of RyLyn Adams, who went 3-for-5 with three stolen bases and four runs.
Meanwhile, Gardner-South Wilmington beat Grant Park 7-3 on Thursday. The victory continues a trend for the Panthers in their matchups with the Dragons: they've now won four in a row.
Maddie Simms made a splash no matter where she played. She struck out ten batters over seven innings while giving up three earned runs off six hits (and only one walk). She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in seven consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-4 with one home run.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Ella Mack, who went 2-for-4 with one triple, two RBI, and one run. Another player making a difference was Kayla Scheuber, who went 1-for-4 with one triple, one run, and one RBI.
Gardner-South Wilmington's win was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 13-8. Those home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.3 runs on average over those games. As for Herscher, they have traveled a rocky road recently, having lost four of their last five matchups. That's put a noticeable dent in their 13-9 record this season.
Herscher's speedy runners might be the difference in Friday's game. The Tigers have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.3 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Gardner-South Wilmington, though, as they've been averaging only 1 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Herscher continue to outrun the ball?
Herscher took their win against Gardner-South Wilmington in their previous matchup back in April of 2024 by a conclusive 10-0 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Tigers since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
