Softball Game Preview: Bethlehem Catholic Hawks vs. Emmaus Hornets

The Bethlehem Catholic Hawks will head out on the road to challenge the Emmaus Hornets at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Bethlehem Catholic has a tough task ahead: they'll enter the game with six straight losses, while Emmaus will come in with five straight wins.

Bethlehem Catholic fell victim to Easton Area and their airtight pitching crew on Monday. They took a 4-0 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Rovers.

Madison Bixler spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned (and three unearned) runs on four hits and racked up 11 Ks.

Meanwhile, Emmaus made easy work of Pocono Mountain East on Monday and carried off a 9-1 victory. The Hornets might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won seven matches by eight runs or more this season.

Mari Eiswerth made a splash no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out six batters over seven innings while giving up just one earned run off four hits (and only one walk). Eiswerth was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with three RBI and one double. Those three RBI gave her a new career-high.

In other batting news, Avery DeFanti was excellent, scoring two runs while going 3-for-4. Another player making a difference was Taylor Hauver, who scored two runs while going 3-for-4.

Emmaus kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in 11 consecutive contests.

Bethlehem Catholic's defeat dropped their record down to 2-7. As for Emmaus, their record now sits at 10-2.

Bethlehem Catholic suffered a grim 17-7 defeat to Emmaus when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Can the Hawks avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.