Softball Game Preview: McKinney Lions vs. Rock Hill Blue Hawks

The McKinney Lions will square off against the Rock Hill Blue Hawks at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday. McKinney has given up an average of 10 runs per game this season, so hopefully the team got some pitching drills in this week.

McKinney is headed into Thursday's game looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their fourth straight game on Tuesday. They came up short against Plano East, falling 12-0.

Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Rock Hill, who bounced back after a loss on the road last Tuesday. They skirted past Plano 10-9. The win was some much needed relief for the Blue Hawks as it spelled an end to their three-game losing streak.

Madilynn Grossman spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered five earned (and four unearned) runs on ten hits and racked up eight Ks. With that strong performance, she is now averaging an impressive 5.1 strikeouts per game.

At the plate, the team relied heavily on Aliyana Sanchez, who went 3-for-4 with one home run, four RBI, and two runs. Those four RBI gave her a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Kayla Reed, who scored three runs while going 2-for-3.

Sanchez wasn't the only one working in the hit department: Rock Hill kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 16 hits. That's the most hits they've managed all season.

Rock Hill's victory bumped their record up to 5-9. As for McKinney, their loss dropped their record down to 2-18-1.

McKinney took their win against Rock Hill when the teams last played back in April of 2024 by a conclusive 6-0. Will McKinney repeat their success, or does Rock Hill have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.