The Allen Eagles will head out to challenge the Plano East Panthers at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday. Allen is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.3 runs per game this season.
While Allen's win against McKinney Boyd wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Eagles sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 12-10 victory over the Broncos on Wednesday. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Eagles have posted against the Broncos since April 6, 2021.
The team relied heavily on Ady Fincanon, who went 2-for-3 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. Caitlin Cunningham also deserves some recognition as she launched her first home run of the season.
Meanwhile, Plano East came tearing into Wednesday's matchup with three straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 3.7 runs), and they left with even more momentum. They walked away with a 7-4 victory over the Lions.
Jadyn Dawson made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she tossed three innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run while going 1-for-3.
In other batting news, Kayleigh Miller and Chloe Lee did most of the damage at the plate: Miller went 1-for-4 with one home run and three RBI, while Lee scored three runs and stole a base while going 2-for-4. That's the most runs Lee has posted since back in March. Gina Martin was another key player, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 2-for-4.
Allen's record is now 14-15-1. As for Plano East, they pushed their record up to 20-9 with the win, which was their third straight on the road.
Thursday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Allen hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .353. However, it's not like Plano East struggles in that department as they've averaged .338. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Allen took their victory against Plano East when the teams last played back in March by a conclusive 17-10 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Eagles since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
