Softball Recap: Big Walnut Takes a Loss

Big Walnut had lost three straight on the road, but on Thursday they dropped their record down to 6-7 to make it four. They lost 9-1 to the Hayes Pacers. Unfortunately, that's the second time they've come up short against the Pacers this season, as they also lost their prior matchup 5-4 on April 2nd.

As for Hayes, the win (which was their 11th in a row) raised their record to 13-1. Those victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.3 runs over those games.

For Hayes' part, Bronwynn Leighty was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only two hits while striking out 11 over seven innings pitched. Leighty has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in seven consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with one home run. She also scored a run, marking her first of the season.

In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Taylor Flynn, who went 3-for-4 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. That's the most hits she has posted since back in March. Grace Singleton was another key player, going 2-for-3 with one home run and three RBI.

Coming up, Big Walnut will square off against Utica at 5:15 p.m. on Friday. As for Hayes, they will take on Westerville North at 5:15 p.m. on Monday. The Warriors have struggled to contain batters this season (they've allowed 9.85 runs per game on average), something the Pacers will no doubt try to take advantage of.