Ledford is 0-10 against North Davidson since April of 2021 but things could change on Tuesday. The Panthers will take on the Black Knights at 5:00 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
If Ledford beats North Davidson with 15 runs on Tuesday, it's going to be the team's new lucky number: they've won their past two matches with that exact score. The Panthers never let Asheboro get on the board and left with a 15-0 victory on Monday. Give some credit to the fans of both teams: the last four times they've met, the home team has come away the winner.
The team relied heavily on Alana Herrera, who went a perfect 1-for-1 with three RBI, two runs, and one triple. Hailey Hoots was another key player, going a perfect 2-for-2 with three runs and one RBI.
Ledford always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .680. They are a perfect 10-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Meanwhile, North Davidson waltzed into their game two weeks ago with two straight wins... but they left with three. They were the clear victors by an 11-4 margin over the Panthers. The high-flying hitting performance was a huge turnaround for the Black Knights considering their two-run performance the contest before.
Rileigh Barker made a splash while hitting and pitching. She tossed 2.1 innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going 3-for-4 with five RBI and one double. Those five RBI gave her a new career-high.
In other batting news, Valerieh Juarez was a standout: she went a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBI. Another player making a difference was Bryton Zimmerman, who went 2-for-4 with two runs, one double, and one RBI.
North Davidson's win bumped their record up to 15-6. As for Ledford, their victory bumped their record up to an identical 15-6.
Tuesday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Ledford has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .482. However, it's not like North Davidson struggles in that department as they've averaged .460. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Ledford might still be hurting after the 11-4 loss they got from North Davidson in their previous matchup two weeks ago. Can the Panthers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
