The Eustis Panthers will challenge the Somerset Academy (Silver Palms) Stallions at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. Eustis is coming into the game hot, having won their last 12 games.
Eustis is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Wednesday. They had just enough and edged out Wakulla 3-2.
Carson Roden spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned (and one unearned) run on four hits and racked up six Ks. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than one earned run in nine consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Eustis' win was truly a team effort as four different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Skyler Scott, who went 1-for-3 with one stolen base and one run.
Meanwhile, Somerset Academy (Silver Palms) waltzed into their match on Wednesday with six straight wins... but they left with seven. They blew past the Falcons 9-2. The Stallions might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won nine contests by seven runs or more this season.
Somerset Academy (Silver Palms) also let their pitcher toss all seven innings and she was also dialed-in: Ava Stevens gave up just two earned runs on four hits and racked up seven Ks.
At the plate, Taylor Rebhan and Brigitte Valdera did most of the damage at the plate: Rebhan went 1-for-3 with two stolen bases and two runs, while Valdera went 3-for-4 with two RBI and one double. That's the most RBI Valdera has posted since back in April. Another player making a difference was Carley Hernandorena, who went 1-for-3 with two RBI, one run, and one double.
Eustis' record now sits at 23-4. As for Somerset Academy (Silver Palms), their record is now 23-6.
Somerset Academy (Silver Palms)'s hitters will have their work cut out for them on Thursday. Eustis has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7 strikeouts per game. It's a different story for Somerset Academy (Silver Palms), though, as they've been averaging only 3.6 strikeouts. Will Eustis keep running through batters, or will the Stallions buck the trend?
Eustis came up short against Somerset Academy (Silver Palms) in their previous meeting back in April of 2023, falling 4-1. Can the Panthers avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
