Softball Preview: Holy Spirit Spartans vs. Oakcrest Falcons
The Holy Spirit Spartans will be playing in front of their home fans against the Oakcrest Falcons at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Holy Spirit will be strutting in after a win while Oakcrest will be coming in after a loss.
Holy Spirit will roll into the contest after a wild two-game stretch: they didn't score any runs two weeks ago, then bounced right back against Wildwood Catholic on Monday. Holy Spirit walked away with a 12-8 victory over Wildwood Catholic.
Holy Spirit got a massive performance out of Reilly Byrnes, who scored a run and stole two bases while going 2-for-3. Mary Kate Armstrong was another key contributor, getting on base in all five of her plate appearances with two RBI and a double.
Meanwhile, after a string of three wins, Oakcrest's good fortune finally ran out on Thursday. They took a 6-1 hit to the loss column at the hands of Cumberland. Having soared to a lofty 18 runs in the game before, Oakcrest couldn't push the score so high this time.
Chrystral Williams put in work while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out seven batters over six innings while giving up just two earned (and four unearned) runs off ten hits. Williams has been consistent recently: she hasn't tossed less than seven strikeouts in four consecutive pitching appearances. Williams was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 2-for-3.
Williams wasn't the only one making solid contact as five players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Mia Priestley, who went 1-for-1 with a stolen base.
The win got Holy Spirit back to even at 8-8. As for Oakcrest, their defeat ended a three-game streak of away wins and brought them to 11-5.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Wednesday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Holy Spirit has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 8.4 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Oakcrest struggles in that department as they've been averaging 8.1. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Holy Spirit took their victory against Oakcrest when the teams last played back in April by a conclusive 7-0. Does Holy Spirit have another victory up their sleeve, or will Oakcrest turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
