Mercer County hasn't had much luck against Sherrard recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. The Golden Eagles will look to defend their home field against the Tigers at 4:30 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Mercer County took a loss when they played away from home on Monday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Wednesday. Their pitcher stepped up to hand Princeville a 14-0 shutout. The Golden Eagles not only won on Wednesday, but they posted their biggest win since April 8th (when they won 27-2).
Mercer County let Alivia Gillespie and Payton Ruggles run wild. Gillespie went a perfect 1-for-1 with one home run, four RBI, and two runs, while Ruggles went a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBI, two runs, and one triple. That's the most RBI Gillespie has posted since back in May of 2024. The team also got some help courtesy of Maddy Campbell-Baker, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with two runs, two RBI, and one double.
Meanwhile, Sherrard made easy work of Alleman on Wednesday and carried off a 6-0 victory. The win continues a trend for the Tigers in their matchups with the Pioneers: they've now won three in a row.
Not much got past Savanah Hauger, who gave up just three hits to keep Alleman off the board. Hauger has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Makenzy Moran was incredible, firing off two home runs and three RBI while going 2-for-4. Tessa Driessens was another key player, going 1-for-2 with three RBI and one double.
Sherrard hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. The team has now struck out at least four batters in five consecutive matches.
Mercer County's victory bumped their record up to 14-3. As for Sherrard, their win bumped their record up to 12-3.
Thursday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Mercer County hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .346. However, it's not like Sherrard struggles in that department as they've averaged .352. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
