The Juniata Valley Hornets will head out to face off against the Mount Union Trojans at 2:00 p.m. on Friday. Juniata Valley is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.2 runs per game this season.
On Thursday, Juniata Valley was able to grind out a solid victory over Williamsburg, taking the game 7-3.
Braelyn Hall
| 05/07/26 vs Williamsburg | 12 |
| 03/31/26 vs Moshannon Valley | 7 |
| 04/29/26 @ Glendale | 6 |
| 05/02/26 vs Mount Union | 3 |
| 05/05/26 @ West Branch | 2 |
Braelyn Hall and Bethany Devore were major factors while hitting and pitching. Throwing, Hall struck out 12 batters over five innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off two hits. Meanwhile, Devore tossed two innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. Those 12 strikeouts gave Hall a new career-high. At bat, Hall went a perfect 2-for-2 with one run and one RBI, while Devore went 1-for-2 with one home run. That home run was Devore's first of the season.
In other batting news, Gracie Smith was excellent, going 2-for-3 with one triple and one RBI. That triple marked the first that she has hit this season. Riley Mease was another key player, going 1-for-2 with two RBI and one double.
Meanwhile, Mount Union waltzed into their contest on Tuesday with four straight wins... but they left with five. They never let the Bulldogs get on the board and left with a 1-0 win. The game was the first time the Trojans have beaten the Bulldogs on their field since April 14, 2021.
Like Juniata Valley, Mount Union also got a great game from a two-way player: Payton Williams. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run over seven innings pitched. Williams has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-3 with one triple and one RBI.
Williams wasn't the only one making solid contact as three players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Sydnee Harris, who went 1-for-2 with one double.
Juniata Valley's record is now 9-5. As for Mount Union, their record now sits at 10-8.
Juniata Valley couldn't quite finish off Mount Union in their previous meeting on Saturday and fell 11-9. Can the Hornets avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
