Northwestern is 0-4 against Shawnee since April of 2022 but things could change on Wednesday. The Warriors will challenge the Braves at 2:00 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Northwestern is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Thursday. Their pitcher stepped up to hand Reading a 10-0 shutout. The win was nothing new for the Warriors as they're now sitting on five straight.
The team relied heavily on Olivia Deane, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with five RBI, one triple, and one stolen base. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in April. The team also got some help courtesy of Addy Hensley, who went 1-for-3 with two runs and one stolen base.
Northwestern hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Reading struck out nine times.
Meanwhile, Shawnee put their dominant pitcher on display in the team's sixth consecutive shutout on Thursday. They were the clear victors by a 10-0 margin over Blanchester.
Alee Trimmer tossed a big game, not allowing a single earned run while striking out nine over six innings pitched. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than one earned run in 17 consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Lily Wilson was a standout: she went a perfect 4-for-4 with three runs, one triple, and two RBI. Maura Simpson was another key player, going 2-for-4 with one triple, two RBI, and one run.
Northwestern's victory was their third straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 18-9. The road wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.0 run on average over those games. As for Shawnee, their record is now 24-3.
Wednesday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Northwestern hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .340. However, it's not like Shawnee struggles in that department as they've averaged .344. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Northwestern couldn't quite get it done against Shawnee in their previous matchup back in April as they fell 7-4. Can the Warriors avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
