Fair Grove hasn't had much luck against Mt. Vernon recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. The Eagles will head out on the road to face off against the Mountaineers at 5:00 p.m. Fair Grove will be looking to extend their current nine-game winning streak.
While Fair Grove's win against Springfield Catholic wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Eagles narrowly escaped with a victory as the squad sidled past the Fighting Irish 5-3. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Eagles have posted since May 7, 2024.
Aubrie Voorhis
| 04/16/25 vs Springfield Catholic | 1 |
| 04/15/25 vs Reeds Spring | 0 |
| 04/10/25 vs Buffalo | 1 |
Aubrie Voorhis spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned (and two unearned) runs on eight hits. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than one earned run in three consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Brooke Daniels, who scored two runs and stole two bases while going 3-for-4. Another player making a difference was Shayla Haddock, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
Meanwhile, Mt. Vernon faced East Newton in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Tuesday. The Mountaineers were the clear victors by a 10-3 margin over the Patriots. The Mountaineers might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won 12 contests by seven runs or more this season.
Cheyenne Bieber made a splash no matter where she played. She didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out ten over six innings pitched. Bieber was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run while going 1-for-4.
In other batting news, Mt. Vernon let Jocelyn Liss and Rae Downing run wild. Liss went 3-for-4 with two RBI and one double, while Downing scored three runs while going 3-for-4. Those three hits gave Liss a new career-high. Lilly Burk was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and one double.
Mt. Vernon is on a roll lately: they've won seven of their last eight matches. That's provided a nice bump to their 16-5 record this season. The victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.3 runs on average over those games. As for Fair Grove, their win was their 11th straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 11-2.
Thursday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Fair Grove has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .469. However, it's not like Mt. Vernon struggles in that department as they've averaged .448. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Fair Grove might still be hurting after the 11-3 loss they got from Mt. Vernon in their previous meeting back in April of 2024. Can the Eagles avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
