Granite City hasn't had much luck against Waterloo recently, but that could start to change on Wednesday. The Warriors will be playing in front of their home fans against the Bulldogs at 4:30 p.m. Both come into the matchup bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Granite City will bounce into Wednesday's game after beating Collinsville, who they had gone 2-7 against in their nine prior meetings. The Warriors put the hurt on the Kahoks with a sharp 14-1 win on Tuesday. The Warriors haven't had any issues with the Kahoks recently, as the game was their third consecutive victory against them.
Christine Myers made a splash while hitting and pitching. She pitched five innings while giving up just one earned run off six hits. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with one double and one RBI.
In other batting news, Granite City let Cheyenne Gaddie and Chloe Randolph run wild. Gaddie fired off two home runs, three runs, and four RBI while going 3-for-3, while Randolph went a perfect 4-for-4 with one home run and four runs. That's the most runs Gaddie has posted since back in April. Rachel Willaredt was another key player, going 2-for-3 with two RBI and one double.
Granite City always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .583. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Collinsville only posted an OBP of .350.
Meanwhile, it may have taken nine innings to finish the job, but Waterloo ultimately got the result they hoped for on Tuesday. They skirted past Triad 7-5. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Bulldogs have posted against the Knights since April 12, 2022.
Aidan Dintelman made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run while striking out six over nine innings pitched. Dintelman was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-5 with one home run and two RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Sam Juelfs, who went 4-for-5 with three runs, two doubles, and one RBI. Another player making a difference was Mallory Thompson, who went 1-for-4 with one home run and four RBI.
Granite City's victory bumped their record up to 9-16. As for Waterloo, they have been performing incredibly well recently as they've won 12 of their last 14 contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 18-4 record this season.
Wednesday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Granite City hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .330. However, it's not like Waterloo struggles in that department as they've averaged .349. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Granite City might still be hurting after the 8-2 defeat they got from Waterloo when the teams last played back in May of 2024. Will the Warriors have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
