The Lincoln County Panthers will face off against the Hoover Huskies at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Lincoln County 3.9, Hoover 2) so any runs scored will be well earned.
Lincoln County took a loss when they played away from home on Wednesday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Thursday. They walked away with a 9-5 victory over Sissonville.
Arien Cooper spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered four earned (and one unearned) runs on eight hits and racked up 11 Ks.
On the hitting side, Jillian Starcher was a standout: she went 1-for-4 with three stolen bases and five RBI. That's the most stolen bases she has posted over her last 12 matchups. Another player making a difference was Lacy Harper, who went 3-for-4 with two runs, two doubles, and one stolen base.
Lincoln County hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. They are a perfect 8-0 when they post two or more strikeouts.
Meanwhile, Hoover waltzed into their game on Monday with two straight wins... but they left with three. They put the hurt on the Vikings with a sharp 9-1 win. The result was nothing new for the Huskies, who have now won 11 contests by seven runs or more so far this season.
Hoover let Jayley Carper and Emma Hanson run wild. Carper went 2-for-3 with two RBI, one run, and one double, while Hanson went 2-for-3 with three runs and one stolen base. Hanson continues to improve, besting her previous run total in each of the last three games she's played. Eden Neiwierowski was another key player, earning three runs and one stolen base.
Lincoln County's victory was their 21st straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 13-8. The home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.9 runs on average this season. As for Hoover, their victory bumped their record up to 17-4.
Lincoln County's speedy runners might be the difference in Tuesday's match. The Panthers have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.8 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Hoover, though, as they've been averaging only 1.1 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Lincoln County continue to outrun the ball?
Lincoln County came up short against Hoover in their previous matchup on Wednesday, falling 6-2. Will the Panthers have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
