Softball Recap: Meridian Gets the Win

It can be hard to translate regular season success to the playoffs, but Meridian had no problem doing just that on Tuesday. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with an 8-6 win over the Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond Knights. The victory continues a trend for the Hawks in their matchups with the Knights: they've now won five in a row.

Ashley Schelling

Batters Struck Out

05/20/25 vs Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond	7
05/15/25 @ Nokomis	9
05/14/25 vs Maroa-Forsyth	11
05/12/25 @ Williamsville	9
05/10/25 vs Marshall	9
+ 7 more games

Ashley Schelling spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and three unearned) runs on 11 hits and racked up seven Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in 12 consecutive appearances.

At the plate, Madi Kapchinske and Shelby Renfro did most of the damage at the plate: Kapchinske went 1-for-4 with two RBI, one run, and one double, while Renfro went 2-for-4 with two runs and one stolen base. The team also got some help courtesy of Hayley Hanson, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI and one double.

Meridian pushed their record up to 25-6 with the win, which was their third straight at home. The home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.0 runs over those games. As for Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond, their loss dropped their record down to 13-16.

Looking ahead, Meridian will be playing at home against Pana at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. The Panthers will roll in looking for their fifth straight win, something the Hawks surely won't give up without a fight. Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond does not have any more games scheduled as of now.