Softball Preview: Baldwin Indians vs. Bradford Tornadoes
Baldwin has enjoyed the comforts of home their last four games, but now they'll head out on the road. They will face off against the Bradford Tornadoes at 6:00 p.m. on Monday. Baldwin is strutting in with some hitting muscle, as they've averaged 11.5 runs per game this season.
Baldwin is hoping to deliver their fans another blowout on Monday, just like they did against Hilliard (and have done all season long). Baldwin blew past Hilliard 15-0. The high-flying hitting performance was a huge turnaround for Baldwin considering their two-run performance the match before.
Shaylen Bryd made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out six batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits (and not a single walk). Bryd was also stellar in the batter's box, going 3-for-3 with a home run and five RBI.
In other batting news, Cali Hartung was incredible, going 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. Chloe Gotto was another key contributor, scoring a run while going 2-for-2.
Meanwhile, Bradford has not done well against Union County recently (they were 2-7 in their previous nine matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Thursday. Bradford sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 5-3 win over Union County. The victory made it back-to-back wins for Bradford.
Like Baldwin, Bradford also got a great game from a two-way player: Rylie Blankenship. She pitched seven innings while giving up just one earned (and two unearned) runs off seven hits. Blankenship was also big at the plate, scoring a run and stealing two bases while going 2-for-4.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Addyson Hinds, who got on base in three of her four plate appearances with a home run and two RBI. Another player making a difference was Kallie Yowell, who scored a run while going 1-for-2.
Baldwin's record is now 20-1. As for Bradford, their victory ended a three-game drought at home and bumped them up to 7-13.
Bradford's pitching crew has a tough task ahead of them: Baldwin has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 10.5 hits per game. It's a different story for Bradford, though, as they've been averaging 9. Given Baldwin's sizable advantage in that area, Bradford will need to find a way to close that gap.
Baldwin took their win against Bradford in their previous matchup back in March by a conclusive 9-0. The rematch might be a little tougher for Baldwin since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
