West County is 0-3 against Mt. Vernon since April of 2023 but things could change on Friday. The Bulldogs will head out on the road to face off against the Mountaineers at 4:00 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Mt. Vernon will be up against a hot West County team: the squad just extended their winning streak to six. The Bulldogs were the clear victors by a 17-2 margin over Kingston on Thursday. The high-flying hitting performance was a huge turnaround for the Bulldogs considering their two-run performance the game before.
The team relied heavily on Maylee Merrill, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs, four RBI, and one triple. The team also got some help courtesy of Lacey LaMarr, who scored three runs while going 2-for-2.
West County always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .643. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Kingston only posted an OBP of .214.
Meanwhile, Mt. Vernon never let their opponents score on Wednesday. They put the hurt on Lamar with a sharp 7-0 victory. The win continues a trend for the Mountaineers in their matchups with the Tigers: they've now won seven in a row.
Emily Schubert was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She didn't allow a single earned run while striking out 15 over seven innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than one walk in five consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with two RBI and one double.
In other batting news, Rae Downing was incredible, scoring three runs and stealing two bases while going 3-for-3. Lilly Burk was another key player, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 2-for-3.
West County's victory was their third straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 9-1. Those road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 12.0 runs over those games. As for Mt. Vernon, their record now sits at 12-3.
Friday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. West County has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .579. However, it's not like Mt. Vernon struggles in that department as they've averaged .455. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
West County suffered a grim 15-4 defeat to Mt. Vernon when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Can the Bulldogs avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
