The Manitowoc Lincoln Ships will head out on the road to face off against the Pulaski Red Raiders at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. Manitowoc Lincoln has given up an average of 7.9 runs per game this season, but Monday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
On Wednesday, Manitowoc Lincoln needed a bit of extra time to put away Sheboygan North. They came out on top in a nail-biter against the Golden Raiders, sneaking past 16-14. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Ships.
Jordin Popp was a standout: she went 4-for-5 with three runs, three RBI, and one stolen base. Anya Hall also deserves some recognition as she hit her first triple of the season.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Manitowoc Lincoln kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 16 hits. That's a new trend for them: they were averaging 5.4 hits per game earlier this season, but in their last 15 matches they've averaged 10.4.
Meanwhile, Pulaski didn't have quite enough to beat D.C. Everest on Saturday and fell 5-4. The Red Raiders have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Pulaski saw seven different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Molly Molthen, who went 2-for-3 with one run. Another was Kiera Altman, who went 2-for-3 with one run and one double.
Manitowoc Lincoln's victory was their third straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 7-8. Those road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 16.7 runs over those games. As for Pulaski, their defeat dropped their record down to 5-9.
Manitowoc Lincoln's speedy runners might be the difference in Monday's game. The Ships have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.3 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Pulaski, though, as they've been averaging only 1.3 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Manitowoc Lincoln continue to outrun the ball?
Manitowoc Lincoln might still be hurting after the 13-2 loss they got from Pulaski in their previous meeting back in May of 2024. Can the Ships avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
