Paris hasn't had much luck against Marshall recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Tigers will take on the Lions at 4:00 p.m. Paris will aim to continue their three-game streak of scoring more runs each game than the last.
Paris is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Wednesday. They came out on top against Effingham by a score of 7-2. The win was some much needed relief for the Tigers as it spelled an end to their five-game losing streak.
Leah Sanders looked comfortable as she pitched 3.1 innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits.
At the plate, Jacie Young was incredible, going 2-for-4 with one home run and three RBI. Mattie Carter was another key player, going 2-for-3 with two doubles and one run.
The scorekeeper got an easy start on Wednesday as neither Marshall nor St. Anthony made it on the board until the fifth inning. The Lions won by a run and slipped past the Bulldogs 4-3. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Lions have posted since April 13th.
Kyla Gustafson spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned (and one unearned) runs on five hits and racked up 15 Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in 15 consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on McKenzie Davis, who went 1-for-3 with one home run and three RBI. She has been hot recently, having posted at least one home run the last three times she's played. Another player making a difference was Lynn Welborn, who went 2-for-3 with two runs and one stolen base.
Paris' record is now 16-14. As for Marshall, their record now sits at 24-3.
Friday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Paris hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .332. However, it's not like Marshall struggles in that department as they've averaged .384. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Paris might still be hurting after the 10-0 loss they got from Marshall when the teams last played back in April. Can the Tigers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
