Softball Game Preview: Amanda-Clearcreek Aces vs. Bloom-Carroll Bulldogs

The Amanda-Clearcreek Aces will venture away from home to square off against the Bloom-Carroll Bulldogs at 5:15 p.m. on Friday. Amanda-Clearcreek has given up an average of 9.2 runs per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.

Amanda-Clearcreek came up short against Liberty Union on Wednesday, falling 14-1. The Aces haven't had much luck with the Lions recently, as the team has come up short the last eight times they've met.

Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Bloom-Carroll). Their pitcher stepped up to hand Fairfield Union a 21-0 shutout on Thursday. The Bulldogs might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won 14 games by seven runs or more this season.

Madelyn Gates was a standout: she went 3-for-4 with one home run, three runs, and three RBI. Those three RBI gave her a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Claire Whitcraft, who went 4-for-5 with one home run and four RBI.

They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Bloom-Carroll kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 21 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits every time they've taken the field this season.

Bloom-Carroll's victory was their ninth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 19-2. The road wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.8 runs on average over those games. As for Amanda-Clearcreek, their defeat dropped their record down to 7-10.

Amanda-Clearcreek might still be hurting after the 15-4 loss they got from Bloom-Carroll in their previous matchup back in April. Can the Aces avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.