Softball Game Preview: Salem Hills Skyhawks vs. West Jordan Jaguars

For the second straight game, Salem Hills will face off against West Jordan. The Skyhawks will take on the Jaguars at 1:30 p.m. on Friday. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Salem Hills 4.1, West Jordan 3.6) so any runs scored will be well earned.

Salem Hills heads in on the heels of a playoff contest on Thursday. They lost 13-7 to West Jordan. The Skyhawks' loss signaled the end of their six-game winning streak.

For West Jordan's part, Rita Tavita made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out seven batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned (and five unearned) runs off seven hits. Tavita has been consistent recently: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in four consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI.

In other batting news, Arianna Fjeldsted and Lafiana Fifita did most of the damage at the plate: Fjeldsted got on base in three of her five plate appearances with three RBI, two runs, and one triple, while Fifita went 4-for-5 with three runs, two RBI, and one double. Those four hits gave Fifita a new career-high. Andrea Tagovailoa was another key player, going 3-for-5 with two runs, one double, and one RBI.

West Jordan was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .405. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Salem Hills only posted a batting average of .242.

West Jordan has been performing incredibly well recently as they've won 15 of their last 16 matches. That's provided a nice bump to their 23-4 record this season. The wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.0 runs on average over those games. As for Salem Hills, their defeat dropped their record down to 27-5.

Friday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Salem Hills has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .523. However, it's not like West Jordan struggles in that department as they've averaged .464. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.