Softball Preview: Academy at the Lakes Wildcats vs. Wiregrass Ranch Bulls
After three games on the road, Academy at the Lakes is heading back home. They will take on the Wiregrass Ranch Bulls at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Both teams come into the matchup bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Last Friday, Academy at the Lakes earned an 8-5 win over Westminster Academy. That's two games straight that Academy at the Lakes has won by exactly three runs.
Molly Blackwood and Isabella Ries did most of the damage at the plate: Blackwood went 1-for-4 with three RBI and a double, while Ries scored two runs while getting on base in two of her four plate appearances. Another player making a difference was Kiana Wright, who scored a run and stole a base while getting on base in two of her four plate appearances.
Meanwhile, Wiregrass Ranch put another one in the bag on Monday to keep their perfect season alive. They put the hurt on Wharton with a sharp 8-2 victory. Wiregrass Ranch might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team's won eight matches by six runs or more this season.
Stephanie Daly made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she pitched seven innings while giving up just two earned runs off eight hits (she also didn't allow any walks). Daly was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with a stolen base, a double, and an RBI.
In other batting news, Wiregrass Ranch let Juliana Snyder and Aubrey Zechmann loose on the outfield. Snyder went 2-for-3 with three RBI, a triple, and a run, while Zechmann scored two runs and stole a base while going 2-for-3. Zechmann is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as she's now stolen at least one in the last five games she's played. Chloe Troupe was another key contributor, scoring two runs while going 2-for-4.
Academy at the Lakes pushed their record up to 14-8 with that win, which was their seventh straight on the road. Those victories were due in large part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.7 runs per game. As for Wiregrass Ranch, their victory bumped their record up to 16-0.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Tuesday as neither team is afraid to steal. Academy at the Lakes has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Wiregrass Ranch struggles in that department as they've been averaging 4.1. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Academy at the Lakes might still be hurting after the 11-1 loss they got from Wiregrass Ranch when the teams last played back in February. Will Academy at the Lakes have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
