Alleman is 1-8 against Sterling since April of 2015 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Tuesday. The Pioneers will be playing in front of their home fans against the Golden Warriors at 4:30 p.m. Alleman is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.5 runs per game this season.
Alleman was handed a 15-run loss in their previous outing, but that didn't affect their clutch gene on Wednesday. They had just enough and edged out Quincy 5-4.
Sydnee Ganahl was a major factor no matter where she played. On the mound, she tossed seven innings while giving up just two earned (and two unearned) runs off seven hits. Ganahl was also solid in the batter's box, going 3-for-4 with one RBI. That's the most hits she has posted over her last nine games.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Alysa Brinkman, who went 1-for-3 with one home run and three RBI. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in March.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Sterling, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Wednesday. They put the hurt on Galesburg with a sharp 13-3 win on Thursday. The Golden Warriors might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won four contests by eight runs or more this season.
Like Alleman, Sterling also got a great game from a two-way player: Lily Martinez. She looked comfortable on the mound, tossing six innings while giving up three earned runs off four hits. Martinez was also big at the plate, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 2-for-4. That stolen base was her first of the season.
In other batting news, Kaity Taylor and Mya Lira did most of the damage at the plate: Taylor scored a run and stole two bases while going 2-for-3, while Lira scored two runs while going 4-for-4. Lira has been hot recently, having posted three or more hits the last four times she's played. Lily Cantu was another key player, scoring two runs while going 2-for-4.
Sterling kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 14 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in six consecutive matches.
Sterling's victory was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 8-3. Those home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 8.7 runs over those games. As for Alleman, their victory bumped their record up to 5-10.
Tuesday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Alleman hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .354. However, it's not like Sterling struggles in that department as they've averaged .331. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Alleman suffered a grim 10-0 defeat to Sterling when the teams last played back in May of 2024. Can the Pioneers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
