Hoke County hasn't had much luck against Lumberton recently, but that could start to change on Wednesday. The Bucks will host the Pirates at 6:00 p.m. Hoke County is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.5 runs per game this season.
On Tuesday, Hoke County earned an 8-3 victory over Lee County. The win continues a trend for the Bucks in their matchups with the Yellow Jackets: they've now won five in a row.
Niya Jones spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned (and two unearned) runs on seven hits and racked up nine Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in 13 consecutive appearances.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Chica Amador, who scored three runs and stole a base while going 1-for-3. That's the most runs she has posted since back in March.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Lumberton, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Friday. They were the clear victors by a 12-4 margin over Jack Britt on Tuesday. Considering the Pirates have won six contests by more than six runs this season, Tuesday's blowout was nothing new.
Norah Johnson made a splash no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run while striking out eight over seven innings pitched. Johnson was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run while going 1-for-3.
In other batting news, Jaelyn Hammond was incredible, going 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, three runs, and three RBI. Another player making a difference was Kinsley Martin, who got on base in three of her four plate appearances with one triple and one run.
Lumberton has been performing well recently as they've won six of their last eight matchups. That's provided a nice bump to their 8-7 record this season. The victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 11.9 runs over those games. As for Hoke County, their win bumped their record up to 11-4.
Wednesday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Hoke County hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .332. However, it's not like Lumberton struggles in that department as they've averaged .322. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Hoke County might still be hurting after the 10-1 loss they got from Lumberton in their previous meeting back in March of 2023. Can the Bucks avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
