Softball Preview: Hayes Pacers vs. Big Walnut Golden Eagles
Hayes is 9-0 against Big Walnut since April of 2015, and they'll have a chance to extend that success in their first game on Tuesday. The Hayes Pacers will head out on the road to challenge the Big Walnut Golden Eagles at 5:15 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Hayes entered their tilt with Westerville North with three consecutive wins but they'll enter their next game with four. Everything went their way against the Warriors on Monday as they made off with an 11-1 win. With that victory, Hayes brought their scoring average up to 6.3 runs per game.
Brownynn Leighty spent all six innings played on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on four hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't pitched less than five innings in six consecutive pitching appearances.
On the hitting side, Lexi McCabe was a standout: she went 3-for-3 with three RBI, a triple, and a stolen base. Addison Holt was another key contributor, going 2-for-2 with a home run, three RBI, and two runs.
Meanwhile, Big Walnut was not the first on the board on Monday, but they got there more often. They put the hurt on Westerville South with a sharp 14-3 win. The victory was just what Big Walnut needed coming off of a 16-5 defeat in their prior matchup.
Big Walnut let Quinn Kuhlman and Elaine Truax loose on the outfield. Kuhlman went 3-for-4 with three RBI, a triple, and a stolen base, while Truax went 2-for-5 with three runs, a triple, and two RBI. The team also got some help courtesy of Myka Marriott, who scored two runs while going 3-for-4.
Hayes' win was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 8-4-1. Those victories were due in large part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.7 runs per game. As for Big Walnut, their victory bumped their record up to 7-2-1.
Tuesday's match will be a test for both team's pitchers. Hayes hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .329. However, it's not like Big Walnut struggles in that department as they've averaged .372. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Hayes took their win against Big Walnut in their previous meeting back in April of 2023 by a conclusive 11-0. The rematch might be a little tougher for Hayes since the team 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
