Juab is 1-7 against Manti since March of 2021 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Friday. The Juab Wasps will square off against the Manti Templars at 3:30 p.m. Both teams took a loss in their last game, so they'll have plenty of motivation to get the 'W'.
Juab is headed into Friday's contest looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their third straight game on Tuesday. They were a single run away from ending the streak, but they lost an 8-7 heartbreaker at the hands of Richfield.
Bailee Benson put in work while hitting and pitching. She pitched 5.2 innings while giving up just two earned (and six unearned) runs off eight hits. Those hits marked the first that she allowed this season. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with two RBI. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in April of 2024.
In other batting news, Livia Topham was cooking despite her team's loss, scoring a run while going 3-for-4. Austyn Lewis was another key player, scoring a run while going 1-for-5.
Even though they lost, Juab kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. That's the most hits they've managed all season.
Meanwhile, Manti came up short against Gunnison Valley on Thursday and fell 6-3.
Like Juab, Manti also got a great game from a two-way player: Danie Alder. On the mound, she struck out eight batters over seven innings while giving up three earned (and three unearned) runs off five hits. Alder was also big at the plate, scoring a run while going 3-for-3.
In other batting news, Paislee Clark made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went 1-for-3 with one home run and three RBI. Another player making a difference was Chloe Olson, who went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases.
Juab's record now sits at 2-4. As for Manti, their record now sits at 2-6.
Manti's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Juab has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .515. It's a different story for Manti, though, as they've only averaged .354. Will they be able to contain Juab's hitters?
Juab might still be hurting after the 14-3 defeat they got from Manti in their previous meeting back in April of 2024. Can Juab avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
