Softball Game Preview: Bell Blue Raiders vs. Southlake Carroll Dragons

Bell is 1-7 against Southlake Carroll since March of 2015 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Friday. The Bell Blue Raiders will head out to square off against the Southlake Carroll Dragons at 7:00 p.m. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

Bell took a loss when they played away from home last Tuesday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Tuesday. They came out on top in a nail-biter against Keller Central, sneaking past 6-5. The victory was some much needed relief for the Blue Raiders as it spelled an end to their six-game losing streak.

The team relied heavily on Kenslee Turner, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 1-for-2. That stolen base marked the first that she snagged this season.

Meanwhile, Southlake Carroll never let their opponents score on Tuesday. They blew past Northwest 14-0. The Dragons might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won eight matchups by seven runs or more this season.

Olivia Wiske looked comfortable as she pitched three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Furthermore, she didn't allow a single walk, the first time she has blanked an opponent over her last eight contests.

On the hitting side, Sammy Petkus was a standout: she scored three runs and stole Two bases. while going 2-for-3. That's the most stolen bases she has posted since back in February. The team also got some help courtesy of Scarlett Kuhn, who scored three runs and stole a base while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.

Southlake Carroll hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now struck out at most five strikeouts in nine consecutive games.

Southlake Carroll's record is now 13-7. As for Bell, their win was their first in the district, bumping their district record up to 1-2 and their overall record up to 4-9.

Friday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Bell hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .318. However, it's not like Southlake Carroll struggles in that department as they've averaged .377. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other softball content.