The Durand Railroaders are taking a road trip to take on the Swan Valley Vikings at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Durand is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.4 runs per game this season.
Durand got their first taste of in-conference action on Monday and they started things off strong. They put the hurt on Mt. Morris with a sharp 19-3 victory. The Railroaders might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won three matches by ten runs or more this season.
Kinley Shepard made a big impact no matter where she played. She tossed four innings while giving up just one earned (and two unearned) runs off four hits. Shepard was even better at the plate, getting on base in all four of her plate appearances with four runs, two stolen bases, and one RBI.
In other batting news, Durand got a massive performance out of Kayla Copeland, who went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one triple. Another player making a difference was Hayli Pugh, who went 2-for-3 with three stolen bases, three runs, and one double.
Meanwhile, Swan Valley posted their closest win since May 7, 2024 on Wednesday. They narrowly escaped with a victory as the squad sidled past Heritage 6-4. The Vikings haven't had any issues with the Hawks recently, as the game was their eighth consecutive win against them.
Like Durand, Swan Valley also got a great game from a two-way player: Mia Robinson. On the mound, she tossed seven innings while giving up just two earned (and two unearned) runs off six hits. Robinson has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up a single walk in three consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-3 with one home run.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Izzy Coffel, who went 2-for-3 with one run, one double, and one RBI. Greer Diefenbach also deserves some recognition as she brought in her first RBI of the season.
Durand's victory ended a nine-game drought on the road dating back to last season and puts them at 3-5. As for Swan Valley, the win was their first at home , bumping their record up to 2-4.
Tuesday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Durand hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .383. However, it's not like Swan Valley struggles in that department as they've averaged .335. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
