The Pickens Blue Flame will venture away from home to square off against the Blue Ridge Fighting Tigers at 6:00 p.m. on Monday. Pickens will be looking to extend their current four-game winning streak.
On Thursday, Pickens needed a bit of extra time to put away Greer. They narrowly escaped with a victory as the squad sidled past the Yellow Jackets 4-3.
Sophie Duzan
| 04/17/25 vs Greer | 7 |
| 04/15/25 vs Berea | 10 |
| 04/08/25 vs Travelers Rest | 6 |
Sophie Duzan spent all eight innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned (and one unearned) runs on seven hits and racked up seven Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in three consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Kaylee Bolding was incredible, going 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one double.
Pickens hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Greer struck out seven times.
Meanwhile, Blue Ridge hadn't done well against Palmetto recently (they were 0-6 in their previous six matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Friday. The Fighting Tigers walked away with a 7-3 win over the Mustangs.
Blue Ridge also let their pitcher toss all seven innings and she was also dialed-in: Kilee Grant gave up just two earned (and one unearned) runs on eight hits.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Bella Ballenger, who went 2-for-3 with one home run and three RBI. Lily Mulkey was another key player, going 2-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and one double.
Pickens pushed their record up to 11-1 with the victory, which was their fifth straight at home. Those home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 8.8 runs over those games. As for Blue Ridge, they have been performing incredibly well recently as they've won seven of their last eight matches. That's provided a massive bump to their 12-6 record this season.
Pickens' speedy runners might be the difference in Monday's game. The Blue Flame have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 4.2 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Blue Ridge, though, as they've been averaging only 0.8 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Pickens continue to outrun the ball?
Pickens came out on top in a nail-biter against Blue Ridge in their previous meeting back in March, sneaking past 4-3. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Blue Flame since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
