Softball Game Preview: Richland Royals vs. Grapevine Mustangs

The Richland Royals will head out on the road to square off against the Grapevine Mustangs at 6:00 p.m. on Monday. Richland's pitching crew has only allowed 3.6 runs per game this season, so Grapevine's hitters will have their work cut out for them.

Richland's usually-dominant pitching crew will be looking to make up for Tuesday's struggle, when Birdville hitters got past them. The Royals came up short against the Hawks on Tuesday, falling 10-1. The Royals have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.

Birdville typically has all the answers at home, but on Friday Grapevine proved too difficult a challenge. They had just enough and edged out the Hawks 4-3. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Mustangs have posted since April 2, 2024.

Bella MacMahon spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned runs on five hits.

On the hitting side, Grapevine saw seven different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Brynn Snyder, who scored a run while going 2-for-4. That's the most hits Snyder has posted since back in February. Ava Snyder also deserves some recognition as she snagged her first stolen base of the season.

Grapevine is on a roll lately: they've won five of their last six contests. That's provided a massive bump to their 14-10 record this season. Those wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.5 runs on average over those games. As for Richland, their loss dropped their record down to 12-9-2.

Monday's match will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Richland hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .387. However, it's not like Grapevine struggles in that department as they've averaged .333. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.

Richland might still be hurting after the 9-0 defeat they got from Grapevine in their previous matchup back in March. Can the Royals avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.