The Apex Cougars will face off against the East Chapel Hill Wildcats on Friday. Apex is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.2 runs per game this season.
Apex is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Tuesday. Their pitcher stepped up to hand Pine Forest a 7-0 shutout. Considering the Cougars have won eight matches by more than six runs this season, Tuesday's blowout was nothing new.
Pine Forest's batters probably weren't too happy with Audrey Mulaski, who pitched a no hitter and racked up 13 Ks (she gave up four walks). Those 13 strikeouts set a new season-high mark for Mulaski.
Leah Kendall
| 05/06/25 @ Pine Forest | 5 |
| 05/01/25 vs Holly Springs | 2 |
| 04/30/25 vs Apex Friendship | 2 |
| 04/29/25 @ Green Hope | 3 |
| 04/25/25 vs Middle Creek | 2 |
| + 9 more games |
At the plate, Apex let Libby Austin and Leah Kendall run wild. Austin went 1-for-2 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one triple, while Kendall went 1-for-3 with five stolen bases and one run. That's the most stolen bases Kendall has posted since back in March. The team also got some help courtesy of Addie Louder, who went 2-for-3 with one stolen base, one run, and one double.
Meanwhile, East Chapel Hill beat Cardinal Gibbons 7-2 on Tuesday.
McKenna White spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered two runs (both of which were unearned) on five hits and racked up ten Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than nine strikeouts in four consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Anna Grabowski, who went 3-for-4 with three RBI, two runs, and one triple. Lauren Steiner was another key player, getting on base in all four of her plate appearances with two runs.
East Chapel Hill is on a roll lately: they've won eight of their last ten contests. That's provided a massive bump to their 10-7 record this season. Those wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.1 runs over those games. As for Apex, their victory bumped their record up to 12-9.
Friday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Apex hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .353. However, it's not like East Chapel Hill struggles in that department as they've averaged .337. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
