The Garrett Railroaders will take on the Bluffton Tigers at 5:30 p.m. on Friday. Garrett is coming into the match hot, having won their last four games.
While Garrett didn't have the best season last year (they finished 11-18), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. They came out on top against Churubusco by a score of 6-1 on Thursday.
Ashlee Vanderbosch was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she kept things locked down with no earned runs or hits over seven innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up a single earned run in three consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 3-for-5 with one run, one double, and one RBI. That RBI marked the first that she has brought in this season.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Atalie Gullett, who went 3-for-4 with one home run and two runs. Another player making a difference was Remi Winebrenner, who went 3-for-4 with one triple and two RBI.
Garrett always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .561. The last time their OBP was this high was back in May of 2024.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Bluffton). They put the hurt on Fort Wayne Wayne with a sharp 21-4 win on Wednesday. The victory continues a trend for the Tigers in their matchups with the Generals: they've now won eight in a row.
Like Garrett, Bluffton also got a great game from a two-way player: Josie Phillippe. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out eight batters over three innings while giving up four earned runs off three hits. Phillippe was even better at the plate, going 4-for-5 with four runs, two RBI, and one double.
In other batting news, Isabella Stout was a standout: she went 3-for-5 with three runs, three RBI, and two doubles. Those three hits gave her a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Averi Petty, who went 4-for-6 with two runs, one stolen base, and one RBI.
Garrett's win was their fifth straight on the road dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 4-1. Those road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they've averaged 9.0 runs this season. As for Bluffton, their win bumped their record up to 3-4.
Friday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Garrett hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .314. However, it's not like Bluffton struggles in that department as they've averaged .390. 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.
