The Avon Orioles will take on the West Washington Senators in a tournament on Saturday. Avon is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7 runs per game this season.
Avon gave up the first runs on Tuesday, but they didn't let that get them down. They walked away with a 7-3 victory over Westfield. The win continues a trend for the Orioles in their matchups with the Shamrocks: they've now won six in a row.
Brinley Pope looked comfortable as she tossed 2.1 innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two walks in 13 consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Olivia Yeary was excellent, going 1-for-4 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI. That home run marked the first that she has launched this season. Another player making a difference was Kayla Pickering, who got on base in three of her four plate appearances with two runs and one stolen base.
Meanwhile, West Washington had already won five in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 8.4 runs) and they went ahead and made it six on Thursday. They came out on top against the Panthers by a score of 8-3.
Emery Haub made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, pitching seven innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off eight hits. Haub was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and one double.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Macy Lowery, who went 1-for-4 with one home run and three RBI. Meredith Deaton was another key player, going 2-for-5 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI.
West Washington hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. The team has now struck out at least five batters in 11 consecutive matchups.
West Washington pushed their record up to 18-4 with the victory, which was their sixth straight on the road. Those road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.8 runs over those games. As for Avon, their record now sits at 8-16.
Saturday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Avon hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .338. However, it's not like West Washington struggles in that department as they've averaged .357. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other softball content.
