Softball Game Preview: Salt Fork Storm vs. Milford Bearcats

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Previous 6 Games

05/18/24 - Away	1-7 L
04/05/24 - Home	5-16 L
05/20/23 - Away	7-4 W
04/19/23 - Away	5-6 L
04/08/22 - Home	11-1 W
05/29/21 - Away	11-0 W

Salt Fork and Milford are an even 3-3 against one another since May of 2021, but likely not for long. The Storm will challenge the Bearcats at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. Both come into the matchup bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

Salt Fork was handed a eight-run defeat in their previous outing, but that didn't affect their clutch gene on Thursday. They narrowly escaped with a win as the team sidled past Covington 3-1. The victory continues a trend for the Storm in their matchups with the Trojans: they've now won three in a row.

Meanwhile, Milford waltzed into their contest on Thursday with three straight wins... but they left with four. Everything went their way against the Blue Devils as they made off with a 14-1 win. Considering the Bearcats have won three games by more than eight runs this season, Thursday's blowout was nothing new.

Kami Muehling was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only two hits while striking out seven over five innings pitched. Those hits were her first of the season. She was also big at the plate, scoring three runs while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances. That's the most runs she has posted since back in May of 2024.

In other batting news, Addison Lucht was incredible, getting on base in all four of her plate appearances with one home run, five RBI, and two runs. She is on a roll when it comes to RBI, as she's now brought in three or more in each of the last three games she's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Jossalin Lavicka, who scored three runs while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.

Milford always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .625. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Peotone only posted an OBP of .286.

Salt Fork pushed their record up to 10-3 with the victory, which was their 11th straight at home dating back to last season. Those home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.9 runs over those games. As for Milford, their record now sits at 7-1.

Salt Fork might still be hurting after the 7-1 loss they got from Milford in their previous matchup back in May of 2024. Can the Storm avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.