The Milton Eagles will head out on the road to square off against the Chamblee Bulldogs at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Chamblee took a loss in their last game and will be looking to turn the tables on Milton, who comes in off a win.
Having struggled with three losses in a row, Milton turned things around against Johns Creek on Thursday. They came out on top against the Gladiators by a score of 6-2.
Avery Miller was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out six batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned runs off four hits. Miller was also big at the plate, getting on base in three of her four plate appearances with one RBI.
In other batting news, Milton let Carson McElroy and Sophia Kirby run wild. McElroy went 3-for-4 with one stolen base and two RBI, while Kirby went 2-for-3 with three runs. Kirby continues to improve, besting her previous run total in each of the last three games she's played. Another player making a difference was Elizabeth Wilkes, who went 2-for-4 with one stolen base, one run, and one double.
Milton hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Johns Creek struck out six times.
Marist hit Chamblee with a four-run seventh inning on Monday, which goes a long way in explaining the final result. The Bulldogs took a 9-4 hit to the loss column at the hands of the War Eagles.
Stella Barton spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned (and seven unearned) runs on nine hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Chamblee saw five different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Sadie Thompson, who went 1-for-4 with one run and one RBI. Ellasyn Bair also deserves some recognition as she hit her first double of the season.
Chamblee has traveled a rocky road recently, having lost five of their last six contests. That's put a noticeable dent in their 13-14 record this season. As for Milton, their record is now 14-10.
Tuesday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Milton hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .315. However, it's not like Chamblee struggles in that department as they've averaged .329. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Milton took their victory against Chamblee in their previous meeting back in September by a conclusive 10-2 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Eagles since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.