Softball Recap: Keystone Comes Up Short

Keystone extended their losing streak to three on Saturday, dropping their season record down to 13-8 in the process. They took an 8-3 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Wellington Dukes. The Wildcats were not able to repeat the success they had when they faced the Dukes earlier this season, when they won 20-4.

Jordan Owca made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went 2-for-4 with two runs and one stolen base. Rylin Barret was another key player, going 1-for-3 with two RBI and one double.

As for Wellington, they pushed their record up to 8-8 with the victory, which was their fourth straight at home. The home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.5 runs on average over those games.

On Wellington's side, Mallory Pickering made a splash while hitting and pitching. She struck out eight batters over seven innings while giving up four earned runs off six hits. Pickering has been consistent recently: she hasn't tossed less than eight strikeouts in three consecutive appearances. She was even better at the plate, firing off two home runs, three runs, and three RBI while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances. Those two home runs gave her a new career-high.

In other batting news, Caedyn Wacker was excellent, going 3-for-4 with one stolen base, one double, and one RBI. Another player making a difference was Avery Senghas, who went 2-for-3 with three runs.

Both teams are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Keystone will welcome Southeast at 5:30 p.m. on Monday. The Pirates will roll in looking for their sixth straight victory, something the Wildcats surely won't give up without a fight. As for Wellington, they will be playing in front of their home fans against Firelands at 5:00 p.m. on Monday. The Dukes' pitchers better be ready for this one: the Falcons have averaged an impressive 9.8 runs per game this season.