Beardstown is on a four-game streak of home wins, while Havana is on a five-game streak of away wins: one of those streaks is about to end. The Tigers will host the Ducks at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Beardstown 3.4, Havana 2.7) so any runs scored will be well earned.
Beardstown's pitching crew heads into the match hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Thursday. They put the hurt on Routt Catholic with a sharp 15-0 win. Considering the Tigers have won 11 contests by more than five runs this season, Thursday's blowout was nothing new.
Shelby Goodrich was a major factor no matter where she played. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits over four innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two hits in four consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-2 with two RBI, one run, and one double.
Vanessa Nu?ez
| 05/15/25 vs Routt Catholic | 4 |
| 04/24/25 vs West Prairie | 3 |
| 04/18/25 @ Augusta Southeastern | 3 |
| 04/16/25 vs Astoria/VIT | 3 |
| 05/08/25 @ Bushnell-Prairie City | 2 |
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Vanessa Nu?ez, who got on base in all four of her plate appearances with four stolen bases, four runs, and one double. Those four runs gave her a new career-high. Kylynn Maltby was another key player, going 1-for-2 with two stolen bases, three runs, and two RBI.
Meanwhile, Havana beat PORTA/Ashland-Chandlerville Central 7-2 on Thursday. The victory continues a trend for the Ducks in their matchups with the Bluejays: they've now won three in a row.
Maddie Howerter spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned (and one unearned) run on seven hits and racked up ten Ks.
On the hitting side, Kaydi Miller was incredible, going 3-for-4 with one home run, three runs, and two RBI. The team also got some help courtesy of Jenna Brooks, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run.
Havana was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .375. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .370 or higher in four consecutive games.
Beardstown is on a roll lately: they've won 11 of their last 14 matches. That's provided a nice bump to their 18-9 record this season. The wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.2 runs over those games. As for Havana, their victory bumped their record up to 20-3-1.
Beardstown's speedy runners might be the difference in Friday's contest. The Tigers have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.6 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Havana, though, as they've been averaging only 0.9 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Beardstown continue to outrun the ball? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
