Smithfield hasn't had much luck against Moses Brown recently, but that could start to change on Saturday. The Sentinels will be playing at home against the Quakers at 11:00 a.m. The two teams are strolling into their matchups after big wins in their previous games.
Smithfield is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Rhode Island's top teams: Westerly, who was ranked sixth at the time (Smithfield was ranked seventh). The Sentinels blew past the Bulldogs 7-1 on Thursday. The Sentinels might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won five contests by six runs or more this season.
Crystal Cacador made a splash no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out nine batters over seven innings while giving up just one earned run off seven hits (and not a single walk). She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 1-for-4 with two runs and one double.
In other batting news, Lily Riggin was excellent, going 1-for-3 with three RBI and one run. Madison Kennedy was another key player, going 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI.
Moses Brown not only won on Thursday, but they posted their biggest win since May 9, 2024 (when they won 11-3). They were the clear victors by a 9-1 margin over Cumberland. The game was the first time the Quakers have beaten the Clippers on their field since May 24, 2019.
The team relied heavily on Elodie Cannon, who went 2-for-4 with one home run, two RBI, and one double. Those two RBI gave her a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Emmy Monchik, who went 2-for-4 with three runs, one double, and one RBI.
Moses Brown hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their strikeout total in three consecutive games.
Smithfield's victory was their fourth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 5-2. Those home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 0.8 runs on average over those games. As for Moses Brown, their victory ended a five-game drought on the road dating back to last season and puts them at 2-3.
Saturday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Smithfield hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .353. However, it's not like Moses Brown 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.
Smithfield beat Moses Brown 9-5 in their previous meeting back in May of 2024. Do the Sentinels have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Quakers turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
