Softball Preview: Bountiful RedHawks vs. Salem Hills Skyhawks
Bountiful has enjoyed a four-game homestand but will soon have to dust off their road jerseys. They will face off against the Salem Hills Skyhawks at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday. The two teams each escaped (but just barely!) with wins against their previous opponents.
Bountiful is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Friday. They came out on top in a nail-biter against Wasatch and snuck past 3-1.
Ella Miller made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out 16 batters over seven innings while giving up just one earned run off two hits. Miller has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in 22 consecutive pitching appearances. Miller was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI, and a double.
Miller wasn't the only one making solid contact as four players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Athena Tongaonevai, who scored a run while going 1-for-2.
Meanwhile, Salem Hills entered their tilt with Maple Mountain with three consecutive wins but they'll enter their next game with four. They had just enough and edged the Golden Eagles out 6-4.
Like Bountiful, Salem Hills also got a great game from a two-way player: Jocile Norman. She didn't allow a single earned run and only two hits over 4.2 innings pitched. Norman was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.
In other batting news, Rilyne Keck was incredible, going 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI.
Bountiful pushed their record up to 25-3 with that victory, which was their sixth straight at home. As for Salem Hills, they have been performing incredibly well recently as they've won 13 of their last 15 contests, which provided a nice bump to their 21-7 record this season.
Tuesday's match might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Bountiful has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .493. However, it's not like Salem Hills struggles in that department as they've averaged .483. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Bountiful came out on top in a nail-biter against Salem Hills in their previous matchup back in May of 2023, sneaking past 5-3. The rematch might be a little tougher for Bountiful since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
