The Reading Blue Devils will challenge the Mercy McAuley Wolves at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. The two teams each escaped (but just barely!) with wins against their previous opponents.
Mercy McAuley will challenge a team with plenty of momentum: Reading extended their winning streak to five on Wednesday. The Blue Devils came within a single run of losing the streak, but they secured a 7-6 W against Indian Hill.
Kotah Brisbin
| 04/09/25 @ Indian Hill | 8 |
| 04/07/25 vs Indian Hill | 9 |
| 04/02/25 vs Finneytown | 7 |
| 03/27/25 @ Lockland | 9 |
Kotah Brisbin spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered six earned runs on ten hits and racked up eight Ks. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't tossed less than seven strikeouts in four consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Eliza Schierloh was a standout: she scored a run while going 2-for-4. Another player making a difference was Hailey Mowell, who went 3-for-4 with two runs and one triple.
Schierloh wasn't the only one making solid contact: Reading kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least 11 hits in five consecutive matchups.
Meanwhile, Mercy McAuley had to endure a three-game losing streak, but that streak is no more. They came out on top in a nail-biter against Ursuline Academy on Monday, sneaking past 5-4.
Mercy McAuley also let their pitcher toss all seven innings and she was also dialed-in: Sophia Ward gave up three earned (and one unearned) runs on eight hits.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Callie Elmer, who went 2-for-3 with two runs, one triple, and one stolen base.
Reading pushed their record up to 6-1 with the victory, which was their third straight on the road. Those road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 15.3 runs over those games. As for Mercy McAuley, their victory was their first in the conference, bumping their conference record up to 1-2 and their overall record up to 5-6.
Thursday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Reading hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .527. However, it's not like Mercy McAuley struggles in that department as they've averaged .382. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Reading suffered a grim 19-5 defeat to Mercy McAuley in their previous meeting back in March. Will the Blue Devils 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.
