Softball Game Preview: Ephrata Hits the Road

By Team Reports May 1, 2024, 2:41am

Softball Preview: Ephrata Mountaineers vs. Lebanon Cedars

Ephrata is 10-0 against Lebanon since May of 2018, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Wednesday. The Ephrata Mountaineers will head out on the road to square off against the Lebanon Cedars at 4:15 p.m. Ephrata is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 9.6 runs per game this season.

In what's become a running theme this season, Ephrata gave their fans yet another huge win on Monday. They were the clear victor by a 16-5 margin over Conestoga Valley. The high-flying hitting performance was a huge turnaround for Ephrata considering their one-run performance the contest before.

Maddie Russell made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, keeping things locked down with no earned runs or hits over 4.1 innings pitched. Russell has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive pitching appearances. Russell was even better at the plate, firing off five RBI, three doubles, and a triple while going 5-for-5.

In other batting news, Jordin Rojas and Emma Zimmerman did most of the damage at the plate: Rojas scored two runs and stole a base while going 4-for-4, while Zimmerman scored two runs and stole a base while going 2-for-3. The team also got some help courtesy of Aldynne Snyder, who scored three runs while going 2-for-5.

Meanwhile, after soaring to 20 runs the game before, Lebanon was a bit more limited in their matchup on Monday. They lost 19-2 to Elizabethtown.

Lebanon saw five different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Emily Fickes-Seitz, who scored a run while going 1-for-1.

Ephrata's victory bumped their record up to 9-5. As for Lebanon, their loss dropped their record down to 1-15.

Lebanon's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Ephrata has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 11.9 hits per game. It's a different story for Lebanon, though, as they've been averaging 11.8. Given Ephrata's sizable advantage in that area, Lebanon will need to find a way to close that gap.

Ephrata took their win against Lebanon when the teams last played back in April by a conclusive 18-8. The rematch might be a little tougher for Ephrata since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.

Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps