Softball Game Preview: Ira Bulldogs vs. Hermleigh Cardinals

Ira is 2-8 against Hermleigh since March of 2015 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Saturday. The Ira Bulldogs will head out to square off against the Hermleigh Cardinals at 11:00 a.m. The two teams each escaped (but just barely!) with wins against their previous opponents.

Ira took a 20-run loss the last time they faced off against Borden County, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. Ira narrowly escaped with a win as the team sidled past Borden County 12-11. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Bulldogs have posted against the Coyotes since May 13, 2017.

Ella Robertson was incredible, scoring two runs and stealing Three bases. while going 2-for-3. Hayden Murdock was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing Four bases.

Meanwhile, Hermleigh waltzed into their game on Thursday with six straight wins... but they left with seven. They came within a single run of losing the streak, but they secured a 6-5 W against the Wildcats. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Cardinals have posted since May 24, 2024.

Peyton Miller spent all six innings played on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned (and three unearned) runs on five hits and racked up ten Ks.

At the plate, the team relied heavily on McKenleigh Benitez, who went 1-for-3 with two runs and one triple. Syreah Callaway also deserves some recognition as she hit her first double of the season.

Hermleigh's victory was their fourth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 7-1. The wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.3 runs on average over those games. As for Ira, their record now sits at 2-0.

Ira might still be hurting after the 12-0 defeat they got from Hermleigh in their previous meeting back in April of 2022. Can Ira avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.