vs
| 06/02/22 - Home | 9-5 W |
| 04/26/18 - Away | 13-5 W |
| 04/24/17 - Home | 11-1 W |
Prout has gone a perfect 3-0 against Ponaganset recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Tuesday. The Crusaders will challenge the Chieftains at 4:30 p.m.
Prout is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Rhode Island's top teams: Chariho, who was ranked third at the time (Prout was ranked eighth). The Crusaders lost 12-0 to the Chargers on Friday. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest loss the Crusaders have suffered against the Chargers since April 8, 2023.
Meanwhile, it may have taken nine innings to finish the job, but Ponaganset ultimately got the result they hoped for on Saturday. They narrowly escaped with a victory as the squad sidled past Portsmouth 6-5. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Chieftains have posted since June 8, 2024.
Mattea Mello made a big impact no matter where she played. She struck out 11 batters over nine innings while giving up four earned (and one unearned) runs off nine hits. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in seven consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, getting on base in four of her five plate appearances with one triple and one run. That triple was her first of the season.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Maia Salvo, who fired off two home runs, three RBI, and one stolen base while getting on base in four of her five plate appearances. That stolen base marked the first that she has snagged this season. The team also got some help courtesy of Jillian Baris, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run.
The victory made it two in a row for Ponaganset and bumps their season record up to 4-8. Those wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 7.0 runs over those games. As for Prout, their defeat ended a three-game streak of away wins and brought them to 7-5.
Prout's speedy runners might be the difference in Tuesday's matchup. The Crusaders have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.2 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Ponaganset, though, as they've been averaging only 0.4 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Prout continue to outrun the ball?
Prout beat Ponaganset 9-5 in their previous matchup back in June of 2022. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Crusaders since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
