Softball Recap: Pike Road Snaps Four-Game Streak of Wins on the Road

Pike Road dropped their record down to 17-21 on Friday, which also ended the team's four-game streak of wins on the road. They fell just short of the Long Rebels by a score of 8-7. Unfortunately, that's the third time they've come up short against the Rebels this season, with their most recent defeat being a 5-2 loss back in March.

Ava Milton made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and got on base in three of her four plate appearances with one home run.

As for Long, they pushed their record up to 29-4 with the victory, which was their 16th straight at home. Those home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.4 runs on average over those games.

On Long's side, Anna Claire Free made a splash no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out nine batters over seven innings while giving up three earned (and four unearned) runs off three hits. Free has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in four consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, getting on base in four of her five plate appearances with two stolen bases, three runs, and one triple.

In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Carlie Davis, who went 2-for-4 with one stolen base and one run. She is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as she's now snagged at least one in each of the last four games she's played. Another player making a difference was Kaylie Joseph, who got on base in four of her five plate appearances with two runs.

Pike Road has already played their next game, a 13-0 defeat against Beauregard on the 15th. As for Long, they also didn't take long to hit the field again: they've already played their next contest, a 5-1 loss against Wicksburg on the 12th.