Softball Recap: Elkhart Christian Academy Comes Up Short

Elkhart Christian Academy had lost six straight on the road dating back to last season, but on Friday they dropped their record down to 1-9 to make it seven. They lost 11-0 to the Lakeland Lakers. The Eagles were given a dose of their own medicine in this game as the Lakers apparently hadn't forgotten their defeat the last time these teams played back in May of 2024.

Elkhart Christian Academy saw two different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Naomi Herbster, who went 2-for-3 with one stolen base and one double. That double marked the first that Herbster has hit this season.

As for Lakeland, their record now sits at 5-11. The high-flying hitting performance was a huge turnaround for they considering their one-run performance the contest before.

On Lakeland's side, Shakthi Ramachandran made a splash no matter where she played. She didn't allow a single earned run while striking out eight over five innings pitched. Ramachandran has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, three runs, and one double. That's the most stolen bases she has posted since back in April.

In other batting news, Rylee Amsden was a standout: she went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one double. That's the most runs she has posted since back in April. The team also got some help courtesy of Reahgan Adams, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with three RBI, one run, and one double.

Both squads will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. Elkhart Christian Academy will challenge Prairie Heights at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. The Eagles are facing the Panthers at the right time seeing as the Panthers are stuck on a six-game losing streak. As for Lakeland, they will face off against Concord at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. The Lakers' pitchers better be ready for this one: the Minutemen have averaged an impressive 7.3 runs per game this season.