The Laurence Manning Academy Swampcats will head out to square off against the Orangeburg Prep Indians at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. Laurence Manning Academy is coming into the game hot, having won their last four games.
Laurence Manning Academy barely beat Colleton Prep Academy the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. Everything went Laurence Manning Academy's way against Colleton Prep Academy on Wednesday as Laurence Manning Academy made off with a 13-0 win. The Swampcats might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won four matchups by nine runs or more this season.
Laini Kosinski made a splash while hitting and pitching. She didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out six over five innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than one walk in five consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, scoring a run while going 2-for-4.
In other batting news, Ashley Rae Hodge and Jessica Griffin did most of the damage at the plate: Hodge went 1-for-3 with three RBI, two runs, and one triple, while Griffin scored two runs and stole a base while going 2-for-3. Those RBI were Hodge's first of the season. Lyza Pricklemeyer was another key player, scoring two runs while going 2-for-3.
Laurence Manning Academy was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .500. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .440 or higher in four consecutive contests.
Meanwhile, Orangeburg Prep had to kick off their season on the road on Wednesday, but they showed no ill effects. They came out on top against Holly Hill Academy by a score of 17-13. The Indians haven't had any issues with the Raiders recently, as the game was their third consecutive victory against them.
Prestan Schurlknight was a standout: she scored three runs and stole Three bases. while getting on base in three of her five plate appearances. The team also got some help courtesy of HannaH LambrecHt, who scored three runs and stole a base while getting on base in all five of her plate appearances.
Laurence Manning Academy pushed their record up to 7-1 with the win, which was their ninth straight at home dating back to last season. The wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.3 runs on average over those games. As for Orangeburg Prep, their record now sits at 1-0.
Laurence Manning Academy skirted past Orangeburg Prep 5-4 when the teams last played back in May of 2024. The rematch might be a little tougher for Laurence Manning Academy since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
