Softball Game Preview: Northern Patriots vs. Broadneck Bruins

The Northern Patriots will face off against the Broadneck Bruins at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. The squads are rolling into the game with opposing streaks: Northern has struggled recently with three losses in a row, while Broadneck will arrive with four straight wins.

Northern fell victim to St. Mary's Ryken and their airtight pitching crew on Wednesday. They lost 9-0 to the Knights.

Meanwhile, Broadneck never let their opponents score on Thursday. They walked away with a 5-0 victory over South River.

Not much got past Rylan Crisafulli, who gave up just three hits and racked up 15 Ks to keep South River off the board. Crisafulli has been consistent for a while: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts any time she's pitched this season.

On the hitting side, Broadneck's win was truly a team effort as three different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Aliceanna Weibley, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with one RBI. Diana Owens also deserves some recognition as she snagged her first stolen base of the season.

Broadneck hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as South River struck out 15 times.

Northern's defeat dropped their record down to 6-5. As for Broadneck, their victory bumped their record up to 9-2-1.

Thursday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Northern hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .355. However, it's not like Broadneck struggles in that department as they've averaged .381. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.

Northern took their win against Broadneck when the teams last played back in May of 2023 by a conclusive 11-0 score. Do the Patriots have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Bruins turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.