Softball Recap: West Side Comes Up Short

West Side had lost 13 straight at home dating back to last season, but on Wednesday they dropped their record down to 1-16 to make it 14. They fell just short of the Ririe Bulldogs by a score of 8-7. Unfortunately, that's the third time they've come up short against the Bulldogs this season, with their most recent defeat being a 11-1 loss last Friday.

As for Ririe, they have been performing well recently as they've won six of their last eight contests. That's provided a massive bump to their 10-9 record this season. Those wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 8.9 runs over those games.

For Ririe's part, Cheznee Smith made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out ten batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned (and five unearned) runs off 11 hits. Smith has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI.

In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Haylee Smith, who went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one double. Ava Escalera was another key player, going 2-for-4 with one stolen base, one run, and one double.

Both squads will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. West Side will face off against Soda Springs at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. As for Ririe, they will take on North Fremont at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. The Bulldogs will need to watch out since the Huskies have now posted at least ten runs in their last three matches.