Softball Recap: Bradford Takes a Loss

Bradford had lost four straight at home, but on Tuesday they dropped their record down to 8-12 to make it five. They fell just short of the Mississinawa Valley Blackhawks by a score of 9-8. The Railroaders were given a dose of their own medicine in this game as the Blackhawks apparently hadn't forgotten their loss the last time these teams played back in April of 2024.

Chloe Hocker made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and got on base in three of her four plate appearances with two runs, two RBI, and one double. Another player making a difference was Hayven Evans, who got on base in three of her four plate appearances with two runs and one stolen base.

As for Mississinawa Valley, with the win, they broke their four-game losing streak and moved their record to 7-10. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory they have posted since April 11th.

On Mississinawa Valley's side, Ella Godfrey was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out 11 batters over seven innings while giving up just one earned (and seven unearned) runs off four hits. Godfrey has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than nine strikeouts in 12 consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, getting on base in all four of her plate appearances with one home run, three runs, and three RBI.

In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Gentry Newbauer, who went 3-for-4 with three runs and two doubles. Cora Hoggatt was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two runs.

Coming up, Bradford will take on Tri-Village at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. The Patriots will roll in looking for their 18th straight win, something the Railroaders surely won't give up without a fight. As for Mississinawa Valley, they didn't take long to hit the field again: they've already played their next match, a 19-6 victory against Randolph Southern on the 30th.