Softball Game Preview: Hopkinton Hawks vs. Bishop Brady Giants

For the second straight game, Hopkinton will face off against Bishop Brady. The Hawks will square off against the Giants at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Hopkinton has given up an average of 7.4 runs per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.

Hopkinton lost 17-3 to Bishop Brady on Thursday.

For Bishop Brady's part, Payton Bryson made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out eight over four innings pitched. Bryson has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in seven consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 3-for-5 with one triple and one run.

In other batting news, Bishop Brady got a massive performance out of Maryn Sherman, who went 3-for-5 with four RBI, two doubles, and one stolen base. Those two doubles gave Sherman a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Abby Tyrrell, who went 3-for-5 with three stolen bases, two runs, and one RBI.

Bishop Brady kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 24 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in seven consecutive contests.

Bishop Brady pushed their record up to 11-2-1 with the win, which was their fifth straight at home. Those home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.2 runs on average over those games. As for Hopkinton, they have been struggling recently as they've lost three of their last four games. That's put a noticeable dent in their 4-5-1 record this season.