The Bountiful RedHawks will face off against the Clearfield Falcons at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. Bountiful will be looking to extend their current four-game winning streak.
Clearfield's hitters are going to have their work cut out for them on Thursday: Bountiful hadn't allowed a single run the last three times they've hit the field. The RedHawks never let Layton get on the board and left with a 4-0 win on Wednesday.
The result came thanks to Dylan Carpenter's shutout, as she gave up just two hits and racked up 13 Ks. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up a single earned run in four consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Claire Yates, who went 3-for-4 with two runs, one double, and one RBI.
Meanwhile, after only one run in their last match, Clearfield made sure to put some runs up on the board against Bonneville on Tuesday. The Falcons walked away with a 12-9 victory over the Lakers. The Falcons haven't had any issues with the Lakers recently, as the game was their third consecutive win against them.
Jenna Lloyd made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out 11 batters over seven innings while giving up six earned (and three unearned) runs off 11 hits. That's the most strikeouts she has posted since back in May of 2024. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with two runs and one stolen base.
In other batting news, Clearfield got a massive performance out of Lilly Lara, who went 1-for-4 with four runs, one stolen base, and one RBI. Those four runs gave Lara a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Lyla Leonhardt, who went 2-for-4 with two runs, one stolen base, and one RBI.
Clearfield kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. They are a perfect 8-0 when they post 11 or more hits.
Bountiful's victory was their 17th straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 21-3. The home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 8.5 runs over those games. As for Clearfield, their victory bumped their record up to 12-7.
Thursday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Bountiful has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .433. However, it's not like Clearfield struggles in that department as they've averaged .488. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Bountiful was able to grind out a solid win over Clearfield in their previous matchup back in March, winning 5-2. Will the RedHawks repeat their success, or do the Falcons have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
