Softball Game Preview: Fort Walton Beach Vikings vs. Pace Patriots

Fort Walton Beach is 0-10 against Pace since March of 2015 but things could change on Friday. The Fort Walton Beach Vikings are packing up and heading out on the road for their first away game this season. they will challenge the Pace Patriots at 6:00 p.m. Both come into the matchup bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

Fort Walton Beach is headed out to face Pace after opening their season at home and giving their fans just what they were looking for. Fort Walton Beach won by a run and slipped past Gulf Shores 5-4.

Rilyn Douglas made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she pitched seven innings while giving up three earned (and one unearned) runs off eight hits. That's the fewest earned runs she has allowed since back in April of 2024. She was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run and stealing a base while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances.

In other batting news, Hali Smith was excellent, getting on base in all four of her plate appearances with two RBI and one double. What's more, she posted two hits, the most she's had since back in March of 2024. Anna Beyhl was another key player, scoring a run while going 1-for-3.

Fort Walton Beach always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .576. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Gulf Shores only posted an OBP of .364.

Meanwhile, Pace's rock-solid pitcher showed up for the team's fifth consecutive shutout on Tuesday. Their pitcher stepped up to hand Northview a 3-0 shutout. The win continues a trend for the Patriots in their matchups with the Chiefs: they've now won six in a row.

Not much got past Hannah DeMarcus, who gave up just a hit and racked up 19 Ks to keep Northview off the board.

At the plate, the team relied heavily on Abby McLean, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with one home run. Another player making a difference was Gracie Ueberroth, who scored a run and stole a base while going 1-for-3.

Fort Walton Beach came up short against Pace in their previous meeting back in April of 2024, falling 3-0. Can Fort Walton Beach avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.