The Firelands Falcons will square off against the Columbia Raiders at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Firelands' pitching crew heads into the game hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Monday. They were the clear victors by a 14-0 margin over Wellington. The win was a breath of fresh air for the Falcons as it put an end to their three-game losing streak.
Jeanette Crawford was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run while striking out six over five innings pitched. Crawford was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Sarah Blankenship, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, three stolen bases, and three RBI. That's the most stolen bases she has posted since back in April. Another player making a difference was Lexi Schrader, who went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, two runs, and two RBI.
Firelands kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 15 hits. They are 6-3 when they post 11 or more hits.
Meanwhile, after only one run in their last matchup, Columbia made sure to put some runs up on the board against Brookside on Friday. The Raiders blew past the Cardinals 11-1. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest victory the Raiders have posted against the Cardinals since April 18, 2018.
Alina Jones spent all six innings played on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on five hits and racked up eight Ks. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in four consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Natalie Miller was incredible, going 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, three RBI, and one double. Grace Anderson was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two stolen bases and three runs.
Firelands' win bumped their record up to 9-11. As for Columbia, their victory bumped their record up to 13-7.
Tuesday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Firelands hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .372. However, it's not like Columbia struggles in that department as they've averaged .370. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Firelands came out on top in a nail-biter against Columbia in their previous meeting back in April, sneaking past 5-3. Will the Falcons repeat their success, or do the Raiders have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
