Softball Preview: Bucktail Bucks vs. Montgomery Red Raiders
Bucktail and Montgomery are an even 5-5 against one another since May of 2019, but likely not for long. The Bucktail Bucks will head out on the road to face off against the Montgomery Red Raiders at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Bucktail will roll into the contest after a wild two-game stretch: they only put up two runs on Wednesday, then bounced right back against Sugar Valley Rural on Monday. Bucktail put the hurt on Sugar Valley Rural with a sharp 21-4 win.
Eva Sockman was a major factor no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, tossing two innings while giving up just one earned run but no hits. Sockman was even better at the plate, scoring two runs while going 3-for-3.
In other batting news, Lola English was a standout: she went 4-for-4 with a home run, six RBI, and three runs. The team also got some help courtesy of Makenzie Wagner, who fired off two home runs, three runs, and four RBI while going 2-for-3.
Montgomery never got on the board in their matchup on Thursday, but that sure wasn't the case in their game against Millville last Saturday. Everything went their way against the Quakers as they made off with a 19-4 victory.
Like Bucktail, Montgomery also got a great game from a two-way player: Arianna Snyder. She struck out eight batters over four innings while giving up just two earned (and two unearned) runs off five hits (and not a single walk). Snyder has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in three consecutive pitching appearances. Snyder was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-2 with four RBI and a double.
In other batting news, Addi Muhl and Falin Reynolds did most of the damage at the plate: Muhl got on base in all four of her plate appearances with four runs, a triple, and two RBI, while Reynolds went 1-for-3 with three runs, three RBI, and a triple. Madisyn Miller was another key contributor, going 2-for-3 with three RBI and a double.
Bucktail's record now sits at 11-3. As for Montgomery, they are on a roll lately: they've won seven of their last eight matchups, which provided a nice bump to their 11-4 record this season.
Tuesday's match might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Bucktail has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .533. However, it's not like Montgomery struggles in that department as they've averaged .514. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Everything went Bucktail's way against Montgomery in their previous matchup back in March as Bucktail made off with a 12-2 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for Bucktail since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
