Softball Game Preview: Bellaire Big Reds vs. Martins Ferry Purple Riders

Big Reds

Runs

04/02/25 @ Cambridge	8
04/01/25 vs Shadyside	14
03/29/25 @ The Linsly School	7
03/29/25 @ The Linsly School	10

The Bellaire Big Reds will head out to challenge the Martins Ferry Purple Riders at 5:00 p.m. on Monday. Bellaire is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 9.8 runs per game this season.

Last Wednesday, Bellaire earned an 8-5 win over Cambridge. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Big Reds.

Addison Kovach made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only two hits while striking out eight over 6.1 innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two hits in three consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one home run.

In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Lily Zeller, who scored a run while going 2-for-3. She also put up two RBI, which were her first of the season. Another player making a difference was Avery Shaver, who scored a run while going 3-for-4.

Bellaire kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 15 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least 11 hits every time they've taken the field this season.

Meanwhile, Martins Ferry had already won five in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 4.2 runs) and they went ahead and made it six on Saturday. They skirted past the Red Riders 9-7.

Martins Ferry's victory was their seventh straight on the road dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 6-1. Those road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they've averaged 10.6 runs this season. As for Bellaire, their record is now 3-1.

Bellaire came out on top in a nail-biter against Martins Ferry in their previous meeting back in April of 2024, sneaking past 5-4. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Big Reds since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.