The University Hawks will take on the Parkersburg South Patriots at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (University 2.1, Parkersburg South 2.5) so any runs scored will be well earned.
University is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of West Virginia's top teams: Wheeling Central Catholic, who was ranked 17th at the time (University was ranked seventh). The Hawks came out on top in a nail-biter against the Maroon Knights on Thursday, sneaking past 5-3. Winning may never get old, but the Hawks sure are getting used to it with their third in a row.
Maddie Campbell
| 04/24/25 @ Wheeling Central Catholic | 12 |
| 04/22/25 vs Buckhannon-Upshur | 7 |
| 04/14/25 @ Brighton | 9 |
| 04/12/25 vs Jefferson | 6 |
| 04/09/25 @ Wheeling Park | 9 |
Maddie Campbell spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned runs on four hits and racked up 12 Ks. She has been consistent: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in five consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Lexi Elza was incredible, going 2-for-3 with three runs, one stolen base, and one double. That's the most runs she has posted over her last 12 matches. The team also got some help courtesy of Whitney Cox, who went 1-for-2 with three RBI and one double.
Meanwhile, Parkersburg South got themselves on the board against Spring Valley on Thursday, but Spring Valley never followed suit. They were the clear victors by a 9-0 margin over the Timberwolves. Considering the Patriots have won nine games by more than five runs this season, Thursday's blowout was nothing new.
The team relied heavily on Emma Kuhl, who went 2-for-3 with one home run, two stolen bases, and four RBI. Addison Moon was another key player, going a perfect 2-for-2 with one home run.
Parkersburg South hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Spring Valley struck out seven times.
University's victory was their 16th straight on the road dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 17-3-1. Those road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.2 runs over those games. As for Parkersburg South, they are on a roll lately: they've won seven of their last eight contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 14-6 record this season.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Friday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. University has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 9.3 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Parkersburg South struggles in that department as they've been averaging 11.4 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
University skirted past Parkersburg South 2-1 when the teams last played back in March of 2024. Will the Hawks repeat their success, or do the Patriots have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
