The Dalton Bulldogs will square off against the Black River Pirates at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
On Friday, Dalton earned a 12-9 victory over Mapleton.
Skylar Fletcher was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she tossed seven innings while giving up four earned (and five unearned) runs off seven hits. Fletcher was even better at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one home run, three RBI, and one double. That home run marked the first that she has launched this season.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Lily Teague, who went 2-for-4 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI. The team also got some help courtesy of Hannah Wenger, who went 2-for-4 with three runs.
Dalton kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in 12 consecutive matchups.
Meanwhile, Black River came tearing into Friday's contest with three straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 7 runs), and they left with even more momentum. They were the clear victors by a 10-3 margin over the Raiders. The Pirates might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won six games by six runs or more this season.
Like Dalton, Black River also got a great game from a two-way player: Abbey Kiser. She looked comfortable on the mound, tossing seven innings while giving up just one earned (and two unearned) runs off nine hits. Kiser was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI.
Kiser wasn't the only one making solid contact as seven players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Giuliana Hulesch, who went 2-for-3 with one home run, two runs, and one triple. That's the most runs Hulesch has posted since back in March. Mia Rosales was another, going 2-for-3 with two RBI.
Black River pushed their record up to 8-5 with the win, which was their third straight at home. Those home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.3 runs over those games. As for Dalton, their win bumped their record up to 8-5.
Saturday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Dalton hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .362. However, it's not like Black River struggles in that department as they've averaged .346. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Dalton skirted past Black River 7-6 when the teams last played back in April of 2021. Do the Bulldogs have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Pirates turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
