The Hardee Wildcats will head out on the road to challenge the Booker Tornadoes at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Hardee is coming into the contest hot, having won their last nine games.
Last Tuesday, Hardee got the win against Avon Park by a conclusive 14-4.
Alexandra Herrera was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run over five innings pitched. Herrera has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in seven consecutive pitching appearances. Herrera was also solid in the batter's box, going 3-for-5 with two RBI and a double.
In other batting news, Makayla DeLeon was a standout: she scored four runs and stole four bases while going 4-for-5. She is on a roll when it comes to hits, as she's now hit three or more in the last three games she's played. Another player making a difference was Mady Tyson, who scored two runs while going 3-for-5.
Meanwhile, Booker has not done well against Southeast recently (they were 2-7 in their previous nine matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Thursday. Everything went Booker's way against Southeast as Booker made off with a 22-7 win. The high-scoring effort was just what Booker needed considering they were shutout in their previous matchup.
Mariah Mcphall was a standout: she scored four runs and stole six bases while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances. Makaley Graham was another key contributor, scoring two runs and stealing four bases while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances.
Hardee's victory was their fourth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 12-2. Those victories were due in large part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.8 runs per game. As for Booker, their record is now 4-5.
Friday's match might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Hardee has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .479. However, it's not like Booker struggles in that department as they've averaged .766. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Everything went Hardee's way against Booker when the teams last played back in April of 2022 as Hardee made off with a 23-0 win. Will Hardee repeat their success, or does Booker have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
