The Rowan County Vikings will face off against the Henry Clay Blue Devils at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. Rowan County is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.3 runs per game this season.
On Wednesday, Rowan County didn't have quite enough to beat Woodford County and fell 5-4. The Vikings have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Kassi Perkins was huge while hitting and pitching even without the win. On the mound, she struck out ten batters over six innings while giving up five earned runs off seven hits. Perkins was also big at the plate, going 1-for-2 with two RBI and one double.
In other batting news, Malana Hamm was cooking despite her team's loss, going 2-for-3 with two runs and one stolen base.
Meanwhile, after soaring to 15 runs the game before, Henry Clay was a bit more limited in their matchup on Monday. They took a 7-2 hit to the loss column at the hands of Bryan Station.
Ella Smith spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered four earned (and three unearned) runs on six hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one walk in 14 consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Henry Clay saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Jillian Franco, who went 1-for-3 with two RBI and one double.
Rowan County's loss dropped their record down to 18-5. As for Henry Clay, they have been struggling recently as they've lost six of their last eight games. That's put a noticeable dent in their 7-12 record this season.
Rowan County's speedy runners might be the difference in Thursday's contest. The Vikings have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.3 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Henry Clay, though, as they've been averaging only 1.1 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Rowan County continue to outrun the ball? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
