Softball Game Preview: Marquette Crusaders vs. Putnam County Panthers

Crusaders

Runs

04/29/25 vs Putnam County	11
04/28/25 vs St. Bede	9
04/26/25 vs Yorkville Christian	10
04/24/25 @ St. Bede	9
04/22/25 vs Henry-Senachwine	2
+ 15 more games

For the second straight game, Marquette will face off against Putnam County. The Crusaders will head out to challenge the Panthers at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Marquette is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 11.1 runs per game this season.

Putnam County will be up against a hot Marquette squad: the team just extended their winning streak to three. The Crusaders blew past the Panthers 11-1 on Tuesday. The Crusaders might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won 11 contests by six runs or more this season.

Savanah Erickson was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run over five innings pitched. She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks in eight consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI. That's the most hits she has posted since back in March.

In other batting news, Marquette let Taylor Cuchra and Hunter Hopkins run wild. Cuchra went 2-for-3 with one home run, four RBI, and two runs, while Hopkins went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, three runs, and two doubles. Hopkins is on a roll when it comes to hits, as she's now got three or more in each of the last four games she's played. Avery Durdan was another key player, going 1-for-3 with one home run, two runs, and one stolen base.

Marquette was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .385. They are a perfect 13-0 when they post a batting average of .375 or better.

Marquette pushed their record up to 16-4 with the victory, which was their third straight at home. Those home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.0 runs on average over those games. As for Putnam County, this is the second loss in a row for them and nudges their season record down to 12-11.