The Lafayette Commodores will take on the Pontotoc Warriors at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Lafayette is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 9.5 runs per game this season.
Lafayette will bounce into Tuesday's contest after beating Corinth, who they had gone 1-6 against in their seven prior meetings. Lafayette blew past Corinth 10-3 on Thursday. The result was nothing new for the Commodores, who have now won 16 matches by seven runs or more so far this season.
Mabry Eason made a splash while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out six batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off three hits (and only one walk). Eason was also big at the plate, scoring two runs and stealing two bases while going 3-for-3. That's the most stolen bases she has posted since March 1st.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Braleigh Crowe, who went 2-for-4 with one home run and five RBI. Another player making a difference was Mary Madison Kelley, who got on base in all four of her plate appearances with one RBI.
Lafayette always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .528. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Corinth only posted an OBP of .160.
Meanwhile, Pontotoc faced Itawamba Agricultural in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Friday. Pontotoc fell just short of Itawamba Agricultural by a score of 6-4. The Warriors' loss signaled the end of their five-game winning streak.
Like Lafayette, Pontotoc also got a great game from a two-way player: Olivia Galloway. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run over five innings pitched. Galloway has been consistent recently: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in three consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run while going 2-for-3.
In other batting news, Madi Collums made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went 2-for-3 with one home run and two RBI. That home run was her first of the season. Emarie Boddie was another key player, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 1-for-3.
Lafayette's victory was their seventh straight at home, which pushed their record up to 17-4. Those wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.0 run on average over those games. As for Pontotoc, their defeat dropped their record down to 11-4.
Both Lafayette and Pontotoc just can't seem to miss. Lafayette has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 9.8 hits per game. However, it's not like Pontotoc struggles in that department as they've been averaging only 4.7 hits. 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.
