Softball Game Preview: Banks Braves vs. Rainier Columbians

For the second straight game, Banks will face off against Rainier. The Braves will head out to square off against the Columbians at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday. Banks is coming into the matchup hot, having won their last four games.

For some reason, the away team has come away with the win the last four times Banks and Rainier have met, but the home crowd finally got their W on Tuesday. The Braves put the hurt on the Columbians with a sharp 17-1 win. Considering the Braves have won five games by more than nine runs this season, Tuesday's blowout was nothing new.

Carys Holscher made a big impact no matter where she played. On the mound, she pitched three innings while giving up just one earned run off two hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one walk in five consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI. Those two runs gave her a new career-high.

In other batting news, Brooklyn Evans was incredible, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, three runs, and four RBI. Those four RBI gave her a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Khloe Long, who went 1-for-2 with one home run and two RBI.

Banks always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .720. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.

Banks' victory was their fourth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 8-6-1. Those home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.5 runs on average over those games. As for Rainier, they now have a losing record of 6-7.