Softball Game Preview: New Haven Bulldogs vs. Huntington North Vikings

New Haven is 1-8 against Huntington North since May of 2016 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Monday. The Bulldogs will face off against the Vikings at 5:30 p.m. Given that the two teams suffered a loss in their last games, they both have a little extra motivation heading into this game.

New Haven is headed into Monday's match looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their 13th straight game on Saturday. They took a 9-6 hit to the loss column at the hands of Bluffton.

Sophia Smith and Rakiya Jackson-Totton stepped up to the plate in a big way. Smith went a perfect 1-for-1 with one triple and two RBI, while Jackson-Totton went 1-for-3 with one home run and two RBI. That home run was Jackson-Totton's first of the season. Jaedyn Hoover was another key player, getting on base in all three of her plate appearances with one stolen base and one run.

Meanwhile, Huntington North was not able to break out of their rough patch on Thursday as the team picked up their third straight loss. They were two runs away from ending the streak, but they lost a 6-4 heartbreaker at the hands of Fort Wayne Snider.

Addi Richardson made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went a perfect 2-for-2 with two runs and one RBI. Another player making a difference was Aubrie Linker, who went 3-for-4 with two RBI.

New Haven's record now sits at 2-21. As for Huntington North, their record is now 1-16.

New Haven's speedy runners might be the difference in Monday's contest. The Bulldogs have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.2 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Huntington North, though, as they've been averaging only 0.9 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will New Haven continue to outrun the ball?

New Haven suffered a grim 21-1 defeat to Huntington North in their previous meeting back in May of 2024. Can the Bulldogs avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.