Softball Game Preview: Piedmont Hills Pirates vs. Branham Bruins

The Piedmont Hills Pirates will take on the Branham Bruins at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

Piedmont Hills had to kick off their season on the road on Wednesday, but they showed no ill effects. Their pitchers stepped up to hand Westmont a 7-0 shutout.

Alicia Valladarez was a major factor no matter where she played. On the mound, she pitched 2.1 innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. What's more, she gave up only zero walks, the fewest she's had since back in March of 2024. She was also big at the plate, scoring a run while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.

In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Isabella Paskert, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 1-for-3. Michelle Torres was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 2-for-4.

Piedmont Hills 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 seven consecutive contests dating back to last season.

Meanwhile, Branham earned a 7-4 win over Aragon on Thursday. The victory continues a trend for the Bruins in their matchups with the Dons: they've now won four in a row.