Smithfield is 2-8 against New Kent since May of 2017 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Thursday. The Packers will look to defend their home field against the Trojans at 4:30 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
On Wednesday, Smithfield got the win against Southampton by a conclusive 9-3. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Packers.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for New Kent, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Thursday. They were the clear victors by a 16-8 margin over Hanover on Wednesday. The high-flying hitting performance was a huge turnaround for the Trojans considering their one-run performance the contest before.
Abbie Kegley spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered five earned (and three unearned) runs on eight hits and racked up nine Ks.
On the hitting side, Hannah Tober was incredible, scoring a run while going 4-for-5. Those four hits gave her a new career-high. Kendall White was another key player, scoring two runs while getting on base in four of her five plate appearances.
New Kent always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .537. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Hanover only posted an OBP of .395.
New Kent's win was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 5-1. The home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 20.7 runs over those games. As for Smithfield, they now have a winning record of 4-3.
Thursday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Smithfield hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .536. However, it's not like New Kent struggles in that department as they've averaged .412. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Smithfield suffered a grim 14-1 defeat to New Kent in their previous matchup back in May of 2024. Can the Packers avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
