The Licking Heights Hornets will venture away from home to square off against the Mt. Vernon Yellowjackets at 5:00 p.m. on Monday. Licking Heights is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.1 runs per game this season.
Licking Heights couldn't beat Licking Valley on Thursday even though they stacked four runs on them in the first inning. The Hornets fell just short of the Panthers by a score of 7-5. The Hornets' defeat signaled the end of their five-game winning streak.
Natalie Mahoney spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and four unearned) runs on 12 hits and racked up seven Ks.
At the plate, Lydia Rauch made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went 2-for-3 with one run, one double, and one RBI. That double was her first of the season. Alissa West was another key player, going 2-for-3 with one triple, one run, and one RBI.
Meanwhile, Mt. Vernon came tearing into Friday's match with four straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 9.5 runs), and they left with even more momentum. They came out on top against the Panthers by a score of 6-3.
Mt. Vernon also let their pitcher toss all seven innings and she was also dialed-in: Jocelyn Scarbury gave up three earned runs on one hit and racked up seven Ks. Scarbury has been consistent: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in seven consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Hailey Rudrick and Rylee Myers did most of the damage at the plate: Rudrick went 3-for-4 with three RBI, two doubles, and one run, while Myers went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases and three runs. That's the most runs Myers has posted since back in May of 2024. The team also got some help courtesy of Keely Pollard, who went 1-for-3 with one run, one double, and one RBI.
Mt. Vernon's victory was their fourth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 11-2. The home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.0 runs over those games. As for Licking Heights, their loss dropped their record down to 8-6.
Monday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Licking Heights hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .324. However, it's not like Mt. Vernon struggles in that department as they've averaged .405. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
