The Western Harnett Eagles will challenge the Pinecrest Patriots at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Western Harnett will aim to continue their three-game streak of scoring more runs each game than the last.
Western Harnett is headed in fresh off scoring the most runs they have all season. Their pitcher stepped up to hand Westover an 18-0 shutout on Tuesday. The Eagles haven't had any issues with the Wolverines recently, as the game was their seventh consecutive victory against them.
Morgan McAuley was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out seven batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits (and not a single walk). The dominant performance gave her a new career-low in hits. She was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs and stealing Two bases. while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances.
In other batting news, Summer Baker was a standout: she scored three runs and stole Three bases. while going 2-for-3. She also hit a double, marking her first of the season. Another player making a difference was Grace Bancroft, who scored two runs and stole Four bases. while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances.
Western Harnett always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .645. The last time their OBP was this high was back in April of 2024.
Meanwhile, Tuesday just wasn't the day for Pinecrest's offense. They came up short against Scotland on Tuesday, falling 17-0. The Patriots' loss continues a trend for the team, making it three in a row.
Western Harnett picked up their first road win, bumping their record up to 2-5. As for Pinecrest, their defeat dropped their record down to 2-6.
Wednesday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Western Harnett has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .435. However, it's not like Pinecrest struggles in that department as they've averaged .493. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Western Harnett took their victory against Pinecrest in their previous matchup back in February of 2022 by a conclusive 14-4. Will Western Harnett repeat their success, or does Pinecrest have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
