For the first time this season, Sutherlin will have a chance to prove themselves in a conference matchup. They will take on the Glide Wildcats at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday. The teams are rolling into the game with opposing streaks: Sutherlin has struggled recently with three defeats in a row, while Glide will arrive with five straight victories.
Sutherlin is headed in fresh off scoring the most runs they have all season. They fell just short of Rogue River by a score of 13-12 on Friday.
Kellsie Engelstad stepped up to lead a balanced group of hitters: she scored three runs and stole three bases while getting on base in four of her five plate appearances. She also hit a double, marking her first of the season. Another player making a difference was Kaitlyn Berry, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 3-for-4.
Meanwhile, Glide beat Creswell 7-3 on Friday.
Glide also got a great performance from Ella Weber as she struck out 11 batters over 6.1 innings while giving up just one earned (and two unearned) runs off three hits.
On the hitting side, Peyton Geiger and Samantha Moyers did most of the damage at the plate: Geiger scored a run and stole a base while going 2-for-3, while Moyers scored three runs and stole a base while going 2-for-4. What's more, Geiger posted three RBI, the most she's had since back in April of 2024. Emma Geiger was another key player, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 2-for-4.
Glide hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. The team has now struck out at least five batters in four consecutive games.
Glide pushed their record up to 5-1 with the win, which was their tenth straight at home dating back to last season. Those home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 11.8 runs over those games. As for Sutherlin, their loss dropped their record down to 2-5.
Tuesday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Sutherlin hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .338. However, it's not like Glide struggles in that department as they've averaged .368. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Sutherlin might still be hurting after the 13-3 defeat they got from Glide when the teams last played back in May of 2024. Can the Bulldogs avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
