Northwest hasn't had much luck against Portsmouth West recently, but that could start to change on Tuesday. The Mohawks will be playing in front of their home fans against the Senators at 5:30 p.m. Northwest will be looking to extend their current four-game winning streak.
Northwest gave up the first runs on Monday, but they didn't let that get them down. They blew past Western 9-1. Considering the Mohawks have won 13 games by more than seven runs this season, Monday's blowout was nothing new.
Annika Carpenter spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered a run (which was unearned) on four hits and racked up 12 Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up a single earned run in seven consecutive appearances.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Kendra Bostwick, who went 1-for-3 with two runs and two RBI. Lauren Copp was another key player, going 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Northwest kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in nine consecutive contests.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Portsmouth West, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Tuesday. They won by a run and slipped past Waverly 4-3. The win continues a trend for the Senators in their matchups with the Tigers: they've now won nine in a row.
Portsmouth West saw seven different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Brooklyn Pitts, who went 2-for-3 with one run and one double.
Northwest's victory was their fifth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 14-3. Those road wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.0 runs on average over those games. As for Portsmouth West, their victory bumped their record up to 7-8.
Portsmouth West's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Northwest has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .553. It's a different story for Portsmouth West, though, as they've only averaged .303. Will they be able to contain Northwest's hitters?
Northwest came up short against Portsmouth West when the teams last played back in May of 2023, falling 6-2. Can the Mohawks avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
