The Hallsville Bobcats will challenge the Whitehouse Wildcats at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. Hallsville will be looking to extend their current seven-game winning streak.
Whitehouse's hitters are going to have their work cut out for them on Thursday: Hallsville hadn't allowed a single run the last three times they've hit the field. The Bobcats never let Lufkin get on the board and left with a 3-0 victory on Tuesday.
The result came thanks to Lindsey Dubberly's shutout, as she gave up just five hits and racked up eight Ks. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than one earned run in ten consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Hope Miles, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs, one triple, and one double. Ella Baird was another key player, scoring a run while going 2-for-3.
The home team had come away the winner the last four times Whitehouse and Nacogdoches had met, but sadly for the fans who attended this one that wasn't the case. The Wildcats blew past the Dragons 12-0 on Saturday. The result was nothing new for the Wildcats, who have now won 14 contests by ten runs or more so far this season.
Taylor Morris was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit over four innings pitched. Morris was also stellar in the batter's box, going 3-for-4 with one home run, three RBI, and one double. Those three hits gave her a new career-high.
In other pitching news, Kaylee Burgess looked comfortable as she tossed one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. What's more, she posted three strikeouts, the most she's had since back in February.
Back at the plate, Kyndal Morris and Analee Becerra did most of the damage at the plate: Morris went 1-for-3 with one home run and two RBI, while Becerra went 2-for-3 with two runs, one triple, and one double. Another player making a difference was Makiah Mburugu, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 2-for-3.
Whitehouse was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .464. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Nacogdoches only posted a batting average of .062.
Hallsville's win was their eighth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 26-3-1. Those road victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.3 runs on average over those games. As for Whitehouse, their win bumped their record up to 19-8.
Thursday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Hallsville hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .387. However, it's not like Whitehouse struggles in that department as they've averaged .366. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Hallsville came out on top in a nail-biter against Whitehouse in their previous matchup back in March, sneaking past 2-1. Do the Bobcats have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Wildcats turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
