Softball Game Preview: Novinger Wildcats vs. Atlanta Hornets

Novinger hasn't had much luck against Atlanta recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Wildcats will welcome the Hornets at 5:00 p.m. Novinger has given up an average of 8.4 runs per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.

Novinger fell victim to Princeton and their airtight pitching crew on Thursday. They lost 17-0 to the Tigers. The matchup marked the first time this season in which the Wildcats were not able to get on the board.

Meanwhile, it may have taken eight innings to finish the job, but Atlanta ultimately got the result they hoped for on Tuesday. They narrowly escaped with a win as the squad sidled past Higbee 8-7.

The team relied heavily on Whitney Baker, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with four RBI, one triple, and one run. The team also got some help courtesy of Aiyana Payton, who went 3-for-5 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one double.

Novinger now has a losing record of 3-4. As for Atlanta, their victory bumped their record up to 3-7.

Atlanta's hitters will have their work cut out for them on Friday. Novinger has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 8 strikeouts per game. It's a different story for Atlanta, though, as they've been averaging only 3.9 strikeouts. Will Novinger keep running through batters, or will the Hornets buck the trend?

Novinger suffered a grim 16-5 defeat to Atlanta in their previous meeting back in October of 2024. Will the Wildcats have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.