Softball Recap: Deer Creek-Mackinaw Snags Sixth Win in Last Seven Games

Deer Creek-Mackinaw hadn't done well against Lexington recently (they were 2-7 in their previous nine matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Wednesday. The Chiefs walked away with a 9-5 victory over the Minutemen. The game was the first time the Chiefs have beaten the Minutemen on their field since April 29, 2015.

Mackenzie Knowles

Hits (Career)

04/30/25 @ Lexington	4
04/28/25 @ Tremont	3
04/08/25 vs Farmington	3
04/29/25 vs Peoria Notre Dame	2
04/21/25 vs Heyworth	2

Mackenzie Knowles made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, tossing seven innings while giving up three earned (and two unearned) runs off nine hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances. She was even better at the plate, going 4-for-5 with one home run, two runs, and one double. Those four hits gave her a new career-high.

In other batting news, Byrkleigh Kraft and Lexi Cottingham did most of the damage at the plate: Kraft went 4-for-5 with three runs, while Cottingham went 2-for-4 with three runs, one double, and one RBI. That's the most hits Kraft has posted over her last 12 contests. The team also got some help courtesy of Payton Schweigert, who went 1-for-2 with four RBI.

Deer Creek-Mackinaw was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .400. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .346 or higher in three consecutive matchups.

Deer Creek-Mackinaw has been performing incredibly well recently as they've won six of their last seven games. That's provided a nice bump to their 12-6 record this season. The wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 8.0 runs over those games. As for Lexington, they are on a four-game losing streak that has dropped them down to 10-12.

We've got plenty of inter-conference action coming up soon. Deer Creek-Mackinaw is set to challenge their familiar foe Tri-Valley at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. Meanwhile, Lexington will take on rival El Paso-Gridley at 4:30 p.m. on Friday.