Laurel hasn't had much luck against Neshannock recently, but that could start to change on Wednesday. Laurel will be playing in front of their home fans against Neshannock at 5:00 p.m. Laurel has given up an average of 7.4 runs per game this season, but Wednesday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Laurel came into their game on Thursday off a hard-fought close win, but unfortunately suffered a serious change of fortune. They lost 12-5 to Beaver.
Maddie Evans was cooking despite her team's loss, scoring a run while going 3-for-4. Ivy Pancher was another key player, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 2-for-4.
Evans wasn't the only one working in the hit department: Laurel kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 14 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least 13 hits in three consecutive games.
Meanwhile, Neshannock put another one in the bag on Monday to keep their perfect season alive. They skirted past Union Area 6-4.
Addy Frye made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out 12 batters over 9.2 innings while giving up just two earned (and two unearned) runs off four hits (and only one walk). She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than one walk any time she's pitched this season. She was also solid in the batter's box, getting on base in four of her five plate appearances with two doubles and one RBI. Those two doubles gave her a new career-high.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Gabby Quinn, who went 1-for-4 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI.
Neshannock pushed their record up to 3-0 with the win, which was their 11th straight on the road dating back to last season. The victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 0.9 runs on average over those games. As for Laurel, their defeat dropped their record down to 3-2.
Laurel's speedy runners might be the difference in Wednesday's match. Laurel has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 2.8 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Neshannock, though, as they've been averaging only 1.3 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Laurel continue to outrun the ball? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
