The First Academy Eagles will square off against the Oasis Christian Lions at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. First Academy has given up an average of 10.1 runs per game this season, but Thursday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Fans were treated to a battle of the Eagles on Tuesday. First Academy took an 11-8 hit to the loss column at the hands of Trinity Christian Academy.
Hayleigh Collop made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went a perfect 4-for-4 with one triple, two RBI, and one run. Another player making a difference was Madi Myers, who scored two runs while going 2-for-5.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Oasis Christian). They were the clear victors by a 21-11 margin over Central Florida Christian Academy on Tuesday. The high-flying hitting performance was a huge turnaround for the Lions considering their one-run performance the contest before.
Shianne Dunkle was a major factor no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, pitching five innings while giving up just one earned (and five unearned) runs off four hits. Dunkle was also stellar in the batter's box, scoring five runs and stealing five bases while getting on base in all five of her plate appearances. The dominant performance also gave her a new career-high in RBI (four).
In other batting news, Amber Whittington was incredible, scoring four runs and stealing three bases while going 2-for-4. That's the most stolen bases she has posted since back in February. Ladela Bradberry was another key player, scoring two runs while going 1-for-4.
Oasis Christian always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .548. They are 3-1 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Oasis Christian pushed their record up to 5-8 with the win, which was their third straight at home. The home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 17.7 runs over those games. As for First Academy, they have been struggling recently as they've lost three of their last four matches. That's put a noticeable dent in their 5-7 record this season.
Oasis Christian's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: First Academy has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 11 hits per game. It's a different story for Oasis Christian, though, as they've been averaging 9.4 hits. Given First Academy's sizable advantage in that area, the Lions will need to find a way to close that gap.
First Academy took their win against Oasis Christian in their previous meeting back in February by a conclusive 17-1 score. Will the Eagles repeat their success, or do the Lions have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
