Softball Preview: Murphy Bulldogs vs. Smoky Mountain Mustangs
Murphy is 4-0 against Smoky Mountain since April of 2018, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Monday. The Murphy Bulldogs will head out on the road to face off against the Smoky Mountain Mustangs at 4:30 p.m. Murphy is looking to tack on another W to their 11-game streak on the road dating back to last season.
Murphy's rock-solid pitcher showed up for the team's third consecutive shutout on Friday. They never let Hiwassee Dam onto the board and left with a 3-0 victory.
Paisley Johnson spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just zero earned runs on two hits and racked up 15 Ks. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive pitching appearances.
On the hitting side, Murphy's win was truly a team effort as five different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Emma Hensley, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a double.
Meanwhile, Smoky Mountain earned a 5-0 victory over Tuscola on Monday. The win was just what Smoky Mountain needed coming off of a 20-1 defeat in their prior matchup.
Smoky Mountain also let their pitcher toss all seven innings and she was also dialed-in: Addie Mull gave up just zero earned runs on three hits and racked up nine Ks.
At the plate, Abby Branning was excellent, scoring a run while going 2-for-3. Another player making a difference was Kaitlyn Taquette, who scored a run and stole a base while going 2-for-3.
Murphy's victory bumped their record up to 8-1. As for Smoky Mountain, they have been performing well recently as they've won three of their last four contests, which provided a massive bump to their 4-6 record this season.
Smoky Mountain's pitching crew has a tough task ahead of them: Murphy has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .482. It's a different story for Smoky Mountain, though, as they've only averaged .359. Will they be able to contain Murphy's hitters?
Murphy took their win against Smoky Mountain when the teams last played back in March of 2023 by a conclusive 14-2. Will Murphy repeat their success, or does Smoky Mountain have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
