Softball Game Preview: Walnut Ridge Bobcats vs. Buffalo Island Central Mustangs

The Walnut Ridge Bobcats will head out to face off against the Buffalo Island Central Mustangs at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Each of these teams will be battling to keep a three-game winning streak alive.

Walnut Ridge came out on top against Hoxie on Monday thanks in part to the team's impressive four-run first inning. The Bobcats walked away with a 6-1 win over the Mustangs.

Ashtyn Bradley spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered a run (which was unearned) on two hits and racked up ten Ks. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up a single earned run in three consecutive appearances.

On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Karlee Broadway, who went 2-for-4 with two runs and one stolen base. Chloe Newberry also deserves some recognition as she snagged her first stolen base of the season.

Meanwhile, Buffalo Island Central got themselves on the board against West Memphis on Monday, but West Memphis never followed suit. They put the hurt on the Blue Devils with a sharp 17-0 victory. Considering the Mustangs have won nine matchups by more than eight runs this season, Monday's blowout was nothing new.

Buffalo Island Central's win was their seventh straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 11-5. The road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 18.3 runs over those games. As for Walnut Ridge, their win bumped their record up to 13-4.

Walnut Ridge took their victory against Buffalo Island Central in their previous meeting back in March of 2023 by a conclusive 9-3 score. Will the Bobcats repeat their success, or do the Mustangs have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.