Softball Recap: Utica Takes a Loss

Utica extended their losing streak to three on Wednesday, dropping their season record down to 7-11 in the process. They took an 8-4 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Licking Valley Panthers. The result was an unpleasant reminder to the Redskins of the 16-0 defeat they experienced in the pair's previous head-to-head fixture back in April of 2022.

As for Licking Valley, the win (which was their sixth in a row) raised their record to 17-4. Those victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.7 runs on average over those games.

For Licking Valley's part, Tori Baughman spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered four earned runs on six hits. Baughman has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than two walks in 11 consecutive appearances.

At the plate, Emory Whisner was a standout: she went 2-for-3 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI. Taylor Penick was another key player, going 3-for-4 with three RBI and one double.

Utica has already played their next game (against Northridge), but no score has been uploaded at the time of writing. As for Licking Valley, they also didn't take long to hit the field again: they've already played their next match, a 2-1 win against Watkins Memorial on the 8th.