Softball Preview: Jefferson Area Falcons vs. Madison Blue Streaks
The Jefferson Area Falcons will head out on the road to face off against the Madison Blue Streaks at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. Jefferson Area is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.4 runs per game this season.
Jefferson Area is coming in off a wild two-game stretch: after soaring to 20 runs on Thursday, they were much more limited against Perry on Wednesday. They lost 14-1 to the Pirates.
Kennidie Rogers made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went 1-for-2 with a home run.
Meanwhile, Madison waltzed into their match on Tuesday with two straight wins... but they left with three. They were the clear victor by a 9-3 margin over the Eagles. The result was nothing new for Madison, who have now won five matchups by six runs or more so far this season.
Kara Mekulsia was a major factor no matter where she played. She struck out 14 batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off seven hits. Mekulsia has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't pitched less than five innings in six consecutive pitching appearances. Mekulsia was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run while going 3-for-5.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Tori Semple, who went 3-for-4 with a home run, five RBI, and a double. Another player making a difference was Ally Negin, who scored two runs while going 2-for-4.
Jefferson Area's loss was their fifth straight at home, which dropped their record down to 6-9. As for Madison, they now have a winning record of 8-7.
Thursday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Jefferson Area has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .447. However, it's not like Madison struggles in that department as they've averaged .456. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Jefferson Area might still be hurting after the 10-4 defeat they got from Madison when the teams last played back in April. A big factor in that loss was the dominant performance of Mekulsia, who struck out 11 batters over seven innings while giving up four earned runs off seven hits (and only one walk). Now that Jefferson Area knows the damage she can cause, will they be able to stop her this time? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
