The Durham Trojans will challenge the University Prep Panthers at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday. The two teams are sauntering into the matchup backed by comfortable wins in their prior games.
Durham barely beat Quincy the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. Durham was the clear victor by a 14-1 margin over Quincy on Tuesday. Considering Durham has won 11 games by more than six runs this season, Tuesday's blowout was nothing new.
Sadie Sjolund and Annalee Horn made a splash no matter where they played. Throwing, Sjolund pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. Meanwhile, Horn tossed three innings while giving up just one earned run off two hits. Sjolund has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than two walks in 12 consecutive appearances. At bat, Sjolund went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI, while Horn went 1-for-3 with two runs and two RBI. That's the most runs Sjolund has posted since back in April.
In other batting news, Clare Osbon and Isla Stephens did most of the damage at the plate: Osbon went 2-for-3 with three RBI, two runs, and one double, while Stephens went a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI. That's the most RBI Osbon has posted since back in March. Another player making a difference was Ashley Spence, who went 2-for-4 with two runs and two doubles.
Durham kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They are 10-2 when they post 11 or more hits.
Meanwhile, it can be hard to translate regular season success to the playoffs, but University Prep had no problem doing just that on Friday. Everything went their way against the Falcons as they made off with an 11-3 win. The high-flying hitting performance was a huge turnaround for the Panthers considering their one-run performance the matchup before.
Rylynn Davis spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned runs on six hits and racked up eight Ks.
On the hitting side, Aubrey Caudell was a standout: she went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one double. The team also got some help courtesy of Madisyn Rubalcava, who earned three runs and three stolen bases.
Durham has been performing well recently as they've won ten of their last 13 contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 16-9 record this season. Those victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.4 runs on average over those games. As for University Prep, their win bumped their record up to 11-16.
University Prep's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Durham has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .431. It's a different story for University Prep, though, as they've only averaged .365. Will they be able to contain Durham's hitters?
Durham suffered a grim 16-3 defeat to University Prep when the teams last played back in May of 2025. Will the Trojans have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
