Softball Game Preview: Westgate Tigers vs. Patterson Lumberjacks

The Westgate Tigers will face off against the Patterson Lumberjacks at 5:30 p.m. on Monday. Westgate has given up an average of 16.3 runs per game this season, so hopefully the team got some pitching drills in this week.

Westgate came up short against Teurlings Catholic on Thursday, falling 18-3.

Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Patterson). Everything went their way against Franklin on Wednesday as Patterson made off with a 20-2 victory. With that win, the Lumberjacks brought their scoring average up to 7 runs per game.

Ryleigh Walker was a major factor no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, tossing two innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off two hits. Walker was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs and stealing a base while getting on base in all three of her plate appearances.

In other batting news, Kynzlie Crouch and Giselle Galindo did most of the damage at the plate: Crouch scored two runs and stole a base while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances, while Galindo scored three runs and stole Two bases. while getting on base in both of her plate appearances. That stolen base marked the first that Crouch snagged this season. Olivia Tayloe was another key player, scoring three runs and stealing a base while going 1-for-2.

Patterson always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .781. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.

The victory got Patterson back to even at 5-5. As for Westgate, they dropped their record down to 1-6 with the defeat, which was their eighth straight on the road dating back to last season.

Westgate came out on top in a nail-biter against Patterson in their previous matchup back in March of 2015, sneaking past 2-1. Will Westgate repeat their success, or does Patterson have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.