The Hayden Wildcats will face off against the Mortimer Jordan Blue Devils at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. Both come into the match bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Hayden is headed in fresh off scoring the most runs they have all season. Their pitcher stepped up to hand Center Point a 16-0 shutout on Wednesday. The win continues a trend for the Wildcats in their matchups with the Eagles: they've now won seven in a row.
Hannah Davidson made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She struck out eight batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits (and only one walk). That's the most strikeouts she has posted since back in March. She was also big at the plate, going a perfect 2-for-2 with two RBI and one double.
In other batting news, Jordan Plan was a standout: she scored three runs while going 2-for-2. Another player making a difference was Kinslie Ireland, who scored two runs while going 2-for-3.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Mortimer Jordan, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Monday. They won by a run and slipped past Cullman 6-5. Give some credit to the fans of both teams: the last five times they've met, the home team has come away the winner.
Tatum Hays T. was excellent, scoring a run while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances. Keeton White was another key player, scoring three runs while going 2-for-3.
Mortimer Jordan's victory was their fifth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 18-19. The home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.6 runs on average over those games. As for Hayden, their victory bumped their record up to 26-17.
Thursday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Hayden hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .323. However, it's not like Mortimer Jordan struggles in that department as they've averaged .321. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Hayden couldn't quite finish off Mortimer Jordan when the teams last played back in March and fell 6-4. Will the Wildcats have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
