Softball Game Preview: Holyoke Purple Knights vs. West Springfield Terriers

Holyoke hasn't had much luck against West Springfield recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Purple Knights will look to defend their home field against the Terriers at 12:00 p.m. West Springfield took a loss in their last contest and will be looking to turn the tables on Holyoke, who comes in off a win.

On Wednesday, Holyoke earned a 9-5 victory over Southwick Regional.

Lily Tapion made a big impact no matter where she played. On the mound, she struck out 12 batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned (and three unearned) runs off four hits. Tapion was also big at the plate, going 1-for-2 with three stolen bases and one run.

In other batting news, Jade Maldonado was incredible, getting on base in all four of her plate appearances with six stolen bases and two runs. Another player making a difference was Kylie Blaha, who got on base in three of her four plate appearances with two stolen bases and two runs.

Meanwhile, West Springfield lost 16-2 to Hampshire Regional on Thursday. The loss continues a trend for the Terriers in their meetings with the Raiders: they've now lost eight in a row.

West Springfield's defeat dropped their record down to 2-4. As for Holyoke, their win ended an eight-game drought at home dating back to last season and bumped them up to 3-5.

Holyoke couldn't quite finish off West Springfield when the teams last played back in April of 2024 and fell 15-13. Will the Purple Knights have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.