Softball Recap: Ava Beats Salem for Their Eighth Straight Win

Bears

Margin (Wins)

04/26/25 @ Steelville	18
04/26/25 vs Steelville	17
03/31/25 @ Mansfield	16
04/08/25 vs Seymour	15
04/07/25 vs Cabool	15

Ava came tearing into Monday's matchup with seven straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 10.6 runs), and they left with even more momentum. Everything went their way against the Salem Tigers as they made off with a 9-2 win. The result was nothing new for the Bears, who have now won 15 games by seven runs or more so far this season.

Hunter Strunk made a splash while hitting and pitching. She didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out eight over five innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two walks any time she's pitched this season. She was also big at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBI. Those three hits gave her a new career-high.

In other batting news, Hannah Forrest was excellent, going 3-for-4 with three RBI, one stolen base, and one run. That's the most hits she has posted over her last eight contests. The team also got some help courtesy of Matilynn Goss, who got on base in two of her three plate appearances with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run.

Ava always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .528. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Salem only posted an OBP of .333.

Ava pushed their record up to 18-4 with the victory, which was their sixth straight at home. Those home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.3 runs on average over those games. As for Salem, their defeat dropped their record down to 12-10.

Coming up, Ava will face off against Sparta at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. As for Salem, they will challenge Plato at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday.