Softball Game Preview: Springs Valley Blackhawks vs. Austin Eagles

The Springs Valley Blackhawks are taking a road trip to square off against the Austin Eagles at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Austin took a loss in their last matchup and will be looking to turn the tables on Springs Valley, who comes in off a win.

Springs Valley was handed a eight-run defeat in their previous outing, but that didn't affect their clutch gene on Monday. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 5-3 victory over Loogootee. The win was a breath of fresh air for the Blackhawks as it put an end to their three-game losing streak.

Lily Hickman spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned (and two unearned) runs on five hits and racked up 12 Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than seven strikeouts in seven consecutive appearances.

Lola Kovas

Stolen Base (Career)

04/21/25 vs Loogootee	2
04/14/25 vs Barr-Reeve	1
04/07/25 @ Perry Central	1
04/01/25 @ Eastern Greene	1
04/25/24 vs Paoli	1

On the hitting side, Lola Kovas and Marissa Marshall did most of the damage at the plate: Kovas went 1-for-3 with two stolen bases, one run, and one RBI, while Marshall went 1-for-3 with one stolen base, one run, and one double. Those two stolen bases gave Kovas a new career-high. Kaylee McNeely also deserves some recognition as she snagged her first stolen base of the season.

Springs Valley hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Loogootee struck out 12 times.

Meanwhile, Monday just wasn't the day for Austin's offense. They came up short against Silver Creek on Monday, falling 21-0. The Eagles haven't had much luck with the Dragons recently, as the team has come up short the last seven times they've met.

Austin's loss dropped their record down to 2-5. As for Springs Valley, they now have a winning record of 5-4.

Springs Valley took their victory against Austin when the teams last played back in April of 2023 by a conclusive 17-2 score. Will the Blackhawks repeat their success, or do the Eagles have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.