Softball Game Preview: Licking Heights Hornets vs. Liberty Union Lions

The Licking Heights Hornets will venture away from home to face off against the Liberty Union Lions at 5:15 p.m. on Thursday. Both teams are coming into the matchup red-hot, with Licking Heights sitting on four straight wins and Liberty Union on 15.

Licking Heights is headed in fresh off scoring the most runs they have all season. Everything went their way against Northridge on Wednesday as they made off with a 25-5 victory. The Hornets might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won seven games by six runs or more this season.

Natalie Mahoney

Base on Balls Against

05/07/25 @ Northridge	1
04/30/25 vs Johnstown-Monroe	2
04/28/25 @ Zanesville	2
04/24/25 vs Granville	2
04/23/25 @ Lakewood	1
+ 2 more games

Natalie Mahoney was a major factor no matter where she played. She struck out eight batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit (and only one walk). She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two walks in seven consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, getting on base in both of her plate appearances with two runs. That's the most runs she has posted since back in April.

In other batting news, Lily Meidl was a standout: she went 4-for-6 with one home run, five RBI, and three runs. That's the most hits she has posted since back in March of 2024. Another player making a difference was Alissa West, who went 5-for-6 with four runs, three RBI, and two doubles.

Licking Heights was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .545. They are a perfect 7-0 when they post a batting average of .375 or better.

Logan Elm typically has all the answers at home, but on Wednesday Liberty Union proved too difficult a challenge. They never let the Braves get on the board and left with a 1-0 win. Those one runs were actually the fewest the Lions have put up all season, but given the result they're probably not too concerned.

Liberty Union pushed their record up to 21-1 with the victory, which was their 14th straight on the road dating back to last season. The road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 12.5 runs over those games. As for Licking Heights, their record is now 12-8.

Licking Heights suffered a grim 11-1 defeat to Liberty Union in their previous meeting back in April of 2016. Can the Hornets avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.