We've got a battle between Panthers coming up. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
Oakwood took a nine-run loss the last time they faced off against Centerville, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. Oakwood came out on top in a nail-biter against Centerville on Monday, sneaking past 16-14. The high-scoring performance was a welcome turnaround for the Panthers' hitters, who had struggled in the games prior.
Jaslen Milligan was a standout: she scored four runs and stole Four bases. while getting on base in all five of her plate appearances. The team also got some help courtesy of Madison Churchill, who scored three runs and stole Two bases. while getting on base in three of her five plate appearances.
Oakwood always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .674. Their OBP was a full 0 higher than the also-impressive .513 that Centerville posted.
Meanwhile, Normangee came into Saturday's match having lost seven straight, but that streak is now in the rearview. Everything went their way against Brazos Christian on Saturday as Normangee made off with a 13-3 win. Considering the Panthers' hitters had been struggling lately, the high-scoring outing was a much-needed turnaround.
Gracin Shaffer made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she pitched four innings while giving up just one earned (and two unearned) runs off three hits. The dominant performance also gave her a new career-high in strikeouts (three). She was also big at the plate, scoring two runs and stealing a base.
In other batting news, Nolan Harris and Summer Burnett did most of the damage at the plate: Harris scored two runs and stole a base while going 1-for-2, while Burnett scored three runs and stole a base while getting on base in all three of her plate appearances. What's more, Harris posted two RBI, the most she's had since back in March of 2024. Another player making a difference was Anais Miller, who scored a run and stole a base while going 1-for-2.
Oakwood's victory ended a nine-game drought on the road dating back to last season and puts them at 4-3. As for Normangee, their win bumped their record up to 5-10.
Tuesday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Oakwood has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .603. However, it's not like Normangee struggles in that department as they've averaged .448. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other softball content.
