Softball Preview: Columbus Blue Devils vs. Hardaway Hawks
Columbus has gone 10-0 against Hardaway recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Thursday. The Columbus Blue Devils are taking a road trip to square off against the Hardaway Hawks at 4:00 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Columbus took a loss when they played away from home on Monday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Tuesday. Their pitchers stepped up to hand Sumter County a 16-0 shutout. The Blue Devils' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
Columbus got a massive performance out of Maya Bagsby, who scored two runs while going 2-for-2. The team also got some help courtesy of Emmie Jones, who went 2-for-2 with a triple, two RBI, and a run.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given the score, Columbus always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .583. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Sumter County only posted an OBP of .250.
Meanwhile, Hardaway waltzed into their contest on Tuesday with two straight wins... but they left with three. Everything went their way against the Cherokees as they made off with a 24-0 victory. While the Hawks didn't have the best season last year (they finished 6-13), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.
Daisia Crutchfield was a major factor no matter where she played. She tossed an inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. Crutchfield was even better at the plate, scoring three runs and stealing five bases while going 2-for-2. She is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as she's now stolen four or more in the last three games she's played.
In other batting news, Hardaway got a massive performance out of Taylor Jordan, who scored two runs and stole seven bases while getting on base in all three of her plate appearances. Jordan also hit a double, marking her first of the season. Another player making a difference was Kei'Mayah Neal, who scored three runs and stole six bases while getting on base in all three of her plate appearances.
Columbus' win was their fifth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 8-2. As for Hardaway, they have been performing well recently as they've won four of their last five matchups, which provided a nice bump to their 6-3 record this season.
Thursday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Columbus has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of 0. However, it's not like Hardaway struggles in that department as they've averaged 0. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Columbus took their victory against Hardaway in their previous matchup back in September of 2021 by a conclusive 10-0. Will Columbus repeat their success, or does Hardaway have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
