Softball Game Preview: Middletown Middie Bears vs. Newburgh Free Academy Goldbacks

The Middletown Middie Bears will take on the Newburgh Free Academy Goldbacks at 4:00 p.m. on Monday. Both teams took a loss in their last game, so they'll have plenty of motivation to get the 'W'.

Middletown fell victim to Kingston and their airtight pitching crew on Saturday. They came up short against the Tigers, falling 8-0. The Middie Bears have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.

Meanwhile, Newburgh Free Academy didn't have quite enough to beat Monroe-Woodbury on Friday and fell 6-4. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest loss the Goldbacks have suffered against the Crusaders since May 11, 2023.

Ryan Keller spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and three unearned) runs on six hits.

On the hitting side, Parker Mullarkey made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went 3-for-4 with two RBI and one double. She has been hot recently, having posted three or more hits the last three times she's played. Liana Shaw was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two runs and one double.

Newburgh Free Academy now has a losing record of 7-8. As for Middletown, they now have a losing record of 6-7.

Newburgh Free Academy's hitters will have their work cut out for them on Monday. Middletown has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 6.9 strikeouts per game. It's a different story for Newburgh Free Academy, though, as they've been averaging only 3.3 strikeouts. Will Middletown keep running through batters, or will the Goldbacks buck the trend?

Middletown couldn't quite get it done against Newburgh Free Academy in their previous matchup on May 1st as they fell 7-3. Can the Middie Bears avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.