The Abbott Panthers will venture away from home to face off against the Hubbard Jaguars at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The last three games Abbott has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.
Fans were treated to a battle of the Panthers on Friday. Abbott sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 5-3 win over Mart. Abbott hasn't had any issues with Mart recently, as the game was their third consecutive victory against them.
Abby Neill was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She struck out six batters over six innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off six hits (and not a single walk). She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.
In other batting news, Syndey Balderas was excellent, scoring a run while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances. What's more, she posted two RBI, the most she's had since back in March. Another player making a difference was Rylee Wise, who went 2-for-4 with two doubles and one RBI.
Meanwhile, Friday just wasn't the day for Hubbard's offense. They came up short against Riesel on Friday, falling 17-0. The Jaguars have struggled against the Indians recently, as the game was their third consecutive lost meeting.
Abbott's record now sits at 9-6. As for Hubbard, their loss dropped their record down to 10-9-2.
Tuesday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Abbott hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .341. However, it's not like Hubbard struggles in that department as they've averaged .320. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Abbott beat Hubbard 6-2 when the teams last played back in March. Do the Panthers have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Jaguars turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
