The Willow Spring Storm will challenge the Apex Friendship Patriots at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. The squads are rolling into the game with opposing streaks: Willow Spring has struggled recently with six defeats in a row, while Apex Friendship will arrive with seven straight victories.
Willow Spring came up short against Garner on Thursday, falling 13-2.
Willow Spring saw five different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Lily Holder, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with one double and one RBI. Carly Simon was another, going 1-for-3 with one stolen base, one run, and one double.
Meanwhile, Apex Friendship never let their opponents score on Thursday. They put the hurt on Green Hope with a sharp 13-0 win. The result was nothing new for the Patriots, who have now won eight contests by eight runs or more so far this season.
Riley Weaver was a major factor no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only two hits over five innings pitched. Weaver was also big at the plate, getting on base in all four of her plate appearances with two runs.
In other batting news, Apex Friendship let Sydney Joyce and Brianna Spero run wild. Joyce went 1-for-3 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI, while Spero went 1-for-3 with two runs, two RBI, and one double. Another player making a difference was Makenzie Spero, who got on base in both of her plate appearances with two runs and one stolen base.
Apex Friendship hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. The team has now struck out at least three batters in three consecutive matches.
Apex Friendship's victory was their third straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 12-2. Those road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.7 runs over those games. As for Willow Spring, they now have a losing record of 7-8.
Monday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Willow Spring has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .438. However, it's not like Apex Friendship struggles in that department as they've averaged .470. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Willow Spring came up short against Apex Friendship when the teams last played back in March of 2023, falling 6-3. Will the Storm have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
