The Marsh Valley Eagles will challenge the Preston Indians at 4:00 p.m. on Friday.
Marsh Valley made up a huge gap compared to their last game against Bear Lake, but they still couldn't quite topple them. The Eagles fell just short of the Bears by a score of 10-8 on Tuesday. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest loss the Eagles have suffered since March 26th.
Hazel Sorensen was huge no matter where she played even without the win. On the mound, she tossed four innings while giving up just one earned (and three unearned) runs off two hits. Sorensen was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with one triple, two RBI, and one run.
In other batting news, Olivia Campbell was cooking despite her team's loss, going 3-for-4 with one home run, three runs, and three RBI.
Meanwhile, Preston had already won four in a row and they went ahead and made it five on Wednesday. They were the clear victors by a 20-1 margin over the Panthers. The result was nothing new for the Indians, who have now won eight contests by ten runs or more so far this season.
Like Marsh Valley, Preston also got a great game from a two-way player: Ellie Keller. She tossed three innings while giving up just one earned run off two hits. Keller has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two walks in eight consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going 1-for-3 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI.
In other batting news, Averie Madsen was a standout: she went a perfect 3-for-3 with three stolen bases, three runs, and three RBI. Another player making a difference was Sasha Haslam, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with two stolen bases, three runs, and one triple.
Preston kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 18 hits. That's the most hits they've posted since back in March.
Marsh Valley has been struggling recently as they've lost seven of their last nine games. That's put a noticeable dent in their 5-12-1 record this season. Those defeats can't be blamed on the team's hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 7.7 runs over those games. As for Preston, their win bumped their record up to 18-1.
Friday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Marsh Valley hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .323. However, it's not like Preston struggles in that department as they've averaged .446. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Marsh Valley suffered a grim 14-4 defeat to Preston in their previous meeting two weeks ago. Will the Eagles have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
