Fort Wayne Northrop hasn't had much luck against Columbia City recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Bruins will head out on the road to face off against the Eagles at 5:30 p.m.
Fort Wayne Northrop managed to slip by East Noble the last time these teams faced off, but didn't have those same answers this time around. The Bruins lost 8-1 to the Knights on Thursday. Having soared to a lofty 14 runs in the game before, the Bruins couldn't push the score so high this time.
Columbia City came out on top against Huntington North on Wednesday thanks in part to the team's impressive eight-run third inning. The Eagles blew past the Vikings 13-3. The result was nothing new for the Eagles, who have now won seven contests by six runs or more so far this season.
Emma Hiss made a splash no matter where she played. On the mound, she pitched three innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than two walks in ten consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with two runs and one stolen base.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Jaelynn Schaper, who went 2-for-3 with two runs, one triple, and two RBI. That's the most runs she has posted over her last ten matchups. Another player making a difference was Madelyn Brady, who went 1-for-3 with three RBI, one run, and one double.
Columbia City always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .528. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Huntington North only posted an OBP of .286.
Columbia City is on a roll lately: they've won six of their last seven games. That's provided a nice bump to their 10-3 record this season. The victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.4 runs over those games. As for Fort Wayne Northrop, they now have a losing record of 5-6.
Friday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Fort Wayne Northrop hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .321. However, it's not like Columbia City struggles in that department as they've averaged .362. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Fort Wayne Northrop might still be hurting after the 9-3 defeat they got from Columbia City in their previous matchup two weeks ago. Can the Bruins avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
