Carrollton hasn't had much luck against West Branch recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. Carrollton will face off against West Branch at 5:00 p.m. Carrollton has given up an average of 8.6 runs per game this season, but Thursday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Carrollton will roll into the match after a wild two-game stretch: they didn't score any runs on Saturday, then bounced right back against Salem on Tuesday. The Warriors were the clear victors by a 17-11 margin over the Quakers. The Warriors haven't had any issues with the Quakers recently, as the game was their fifth consecutive victory against them.
Juliaunna Miller
| 04/15/25 vs Salem | 5 |
| 04/16/24 vs Minerva | 3 |
| 03/29/25 @ David Anderson | 2 |
| 03/28/24 vs Ridgewood | 2 |
| 04/04/25 @ Indian Creek | 1 |
Laiken Spilker and Juliaunna Miller did most of the damage at the plate: Spilker went 3-for-4 with six RBI, two runs, and two doubles, while Miller went a perfect 3-for-3 with five RBI, three runs, and one double. Those five RBI gave Miller a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Jordan Pittman, who scored three runs while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.
Carrollton hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their strikeout total in four consecutive contests.
Meanwhile, West Branch hadn't done well against Marlington recently (they were 0-8 in their previous eight matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Wednesday. The Warriors' pitcher stepped up to hand the Dukes a 5-0 shutout. The win was familiar territory for the Warriors, who have now won three games in a row.
Klary McKay made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run while striking out six over seven innings pitched. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than two walks in nine consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with one stolen base, one double, and one RBI. That stolen base marked the first that she snagged this season.
In other batting news, Sara Schmidt was incredible, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 2-for-4. Zoe Metzgar was another key player, going a perfect 1-for-1 with two RBI and one double.
West Branch's victory was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 8-2. The home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.0 runs over those games. As for Carrollton, their record now sits at 6-3.
Thursday's match will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Carrollton hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .370. However, it's not like West Branch struggles in that department as they've averaged .347. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Carrollton might still be hurting after the 10-0 defeat they got from West Branch in their previous meeting back in April of 2024. Can Carrollton avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
