Franklin-Simpson are taking a road trip to face off against Edmonson County at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
Franklin-Simpson had to skate by with only a two-run margin when they last took the field, which might have inspired the 11-run drubbing they dealt Todd County Central on Tuesday. The Wildcats put the hurt on the Rebels with a sharp 15-4 victory.
Hester Blanckenberg looked comfortable as she pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Franklin-Simpson got a massive performance out of Ava Holland, who went 2-for-4 with three RBI, two runs, and one triple. That's the most hits Holland has posted over her last eight matches. The team also got some help courtesy of Jasmine Grover, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs, one stolen base, and one RBI.
Franklin-Simpson always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .553. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Todd County Central only posted an OBP of .308.
Meanwhile, it may have taken nine innings to finish the job, but Edmonson County ultimately got the result they hoped for on Monday. They walked away with a 10-7 win over Grayson County. Considering the Wildcats' hitters had been struggling lately, the high-scoring outing was a much-needed turnaround.
Julie Norris spent all 8.2 innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered six earned (and one unearned) runs on 13 hits and racked up nine Ks.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Emma Price, who fired off two home runs, seven RBI, and one double while going 3-for-4. Another player making a difference was Emma Davis, who went 2-for-4 with two runs and one stolen base.
Franklin-Simpson pushed their record up to 12-14 with the victory, which was their third straight at home. Those home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 14.7 runs over those games. As for Edmonson County, with the victory, they broke their three-game losing streak and moved their record to 11-12.
Franklin-Simpson was able to grind out a solid win over Edmonson County when the teams last played back in March, winning 4-1. The rematch might be a little tougher for Franklin-Simpson since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
