Smithfield is 2-8 against Coventry since June of 2015 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Friday. The Sentinels will square off against the Oakers at 5:00 p.m. Smithfield is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7 runs per game this season.
Smithfield is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Rhode Island's top teams: Pilgrim, who was ranked second at the time (Smithfield was ranked seventh). The Sentinels fell just short of the Patriots by a score of 2-1 on Tuesday.
Crystal Cacador put in work while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she pitched 6.1 innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off eight hits. Cacador was also solid in the batter's box, going 3-for-4 with one double.
Cacador wasn't the only one making solid contact as three players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Madison Kennedy, who went 1-for-3 with one run.
Meanwhile, Coventry posted their closest victory since April 24th on Wednesday. They skirted past Chariho 6-5. The win was familiar territory for the Oakers, who have now won three matchups in a row.
Sage SoareS tossed a big game, striking out ten batters over six innings while giving up just two earned (and three unearned) runs off four hits (and not a single walk). She has been consistent recently: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in four consecutive appearances.
Smithfield's defeat dropped their record down to 12-7. As for Coventry, their victory bumped their record up to 13-6.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Friday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Smithfield has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.9 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Coventry struggles in that department as they've been averaging 8.5 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Smithfield came out on top in a nail-biter against Coventry in their previous matchup on May 13th, sneaking past 6-5. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Sentinels since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
