Softball Game Preview: Newport - Bellevue Knights vs. Hazen Highlanders

The Newport - Bellevue Knights will venture away from home to take on the Hazen Highlanders at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. Newport - Bellevue has given up an average of 9.2 runs per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.

Newport - Bellevue fought the good fight in their extra-innings match against Mount Si on Wednesday but wound up with a less-than-desirable result. They fell just short of the Wildcats by a score of 15-13. The Knights have struggled against the Wildcats recently, as the game was their fifth consecutive lost meeting.

Jenna Wittman and Demi Brown- Ruegg did some serious damage despite the final result: Wittman went 3-for-5 with five RBI and one run, while Brown- Ruegg scored two runs while going 3-for-5. The team also got some help courtesy of Lauren Blank, who scored three runs while going 4-for-6.

Meanwhile, Hazen was not able to break out of their rough patch on Wednesday as the team picked up their sixth straight loss. They came up short against Woodinville, falling 21-1.

Hazen's defeat dropped their record down to 2-12. As for Newport - Bellevue, their loss dropped their record down to 8-7.

Hazen's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Newport - Bellevue has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 9.6 hits per game. It's a different story for Hazen, though, as they've been averaging 11.9 hits. Given Newport - Bellevue's sizable advantage in that area, the Highlanders will need to find a way to close that gap.

Newport - Bellevue took their win against Hazen in their previous meeting back in March by a conclusive 24-0 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Knights since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.