Softball Game Preview: Maine East Blue Demons vs. Niles North Vikings

Maine East is preparing for their first conference matchup of the season on Tuesday. They are taking a road trip to face off against the Niles North Vikings at 4:45 p.m. Maine East is coming into the matchup on a five-game losing streak.

Maine East lost 15-3 to Lake Forest on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Niles North fought the good fight in their extra-innings game against Elk Grove on Saturday but wound up with a less-than-desirable result. They fell just short of the Grenadiers by a score of 3-2. The Vikings have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.

Aaliyah Struthers was huge no matter where she played even without the win. She didn't allow a single earned run over six innings pitched. Struthers was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with one triple and one RBI. That triple was her first of the season.

Struthers wasn't the only one making solid contact as four players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Analina Tumang, who scored a run while going 1-for-2. Giuliana Vardijan also deserves some recognition as she hit her first double of the season.

Maine East's record now sits at 2-6. As for Niles North, their record is now 5-4.

Maine East suffered a grim 16-3 defeat to Niles North in their previous matchup back in May of 2024. Can the Blue Demons avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.