Softball Game Preview: Bayshore Bruins vs. Lakewood Ranch Mustangs

The Bayshore Bruins will venture away from home to face off against the Lakewood Ranch Mustangs at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. Bayshore has given up an average of 18.8 runs per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.

Bayshore is coming in off a wild two-game stretch: after soaring to 36 runs on March 11th, they were much more limited against Braden River two weeks ago. They came up short against the Pirates, falling 17-0. The matchup marked the first time this year in which the Bruins were not able to get on the board.

Meanwhile, Lakewood Ranch waltzed into their contest on Wednesday with two straight wins... but they left with three. They blew past the Sharks 8-2. The Mustangs might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won five games by six runs or more this season.

Lexi Meneely made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, tossing four innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off five hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one earned run in four consecutive appearances. She was even better at the plate, going 2-for-4 with four RBI and one triple. Those four RBI gave her a new career-high.

In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Olivia Shephard, who scored two runs while going 3-for-4. Those three hits gave her a new career-high. Kendal McCoy was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 2-for-4.

Lakewood Ranch was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .424. They are 4-1 when they post a batting average of .375 or better.

Lakewood Ranch pushed their record up to 6-7 with the victory, which was their third straight at home. The wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.7 runs over those games. As for Bayshore, they now have a losing record of 2-3.

Bayshore might still be hurting after the 11-0 defeat they got from Lakewood Ranch when the teams last played back in April of 2015. Can Bayshore avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.