Hilliard Darby is 0-7-1 against Marysville since April of 2016 but things could change on Wednesday. The Panthers will look to defend their home field against the Monarchs at 5:15 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Marysville will take on a team with plenty of momentum: Hilliard Darby extended their winning streak to nine on Tuesday. The Panthers blew past Westerville South 14-4. While the Panthers didn't have the best season last year (they finished 10-13), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.
Kaydence Speelman
| 04/15/25 vs Westerville South | 3 |
| 04/08/25 @ Reynoldsburg | 2 |
| 03/26/25 vs Wooster | 2 |
| 04/10/25 vs Olentangy | 1 |
| 03/31/25 @ Whitley County | 1 |
The team relied heavily on Kaydence Speelman, who scored three runs while going 4-for-4. The dominant performance also gave her a new career-high in RBI (three). Another player making a difference was Katie Byerly, who scored a run while going 2-for-4.
Speelman wasn't the only one making solid contact: Hilliard Darby kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least nine hits in six consecutive games.
Meanwhile, Marysville entered their tilt with Olentangy Berlin on Monday with three consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with four. They were the clear victors by an 8-2 margin over the Bears.
Josie Bumgarner made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She pitched six innings while giving up just two earned runs off four hits. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going 1-for-2 with one home run and two RBI.
In other batting news, Lauren Mobley was excellent, scoring a run while going 2-for-3. Ella Wood also deserves some recognition as she hit her first double of the season.
Marysville pushed their record up to 6-3-1 with the win, which was their fifth straight at home. The home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 7.8 runs over those games. As for Hilliard Darby, their win bumped their record up to 11-1.
Wednesday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Hilliard Darby hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .409. However, it's not like Marysville struggles in that department as they've averaged .353. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Hilliard Darby might still be hurting after the 12-2 loss they got from Marysville in their previous matchup back in April of 2024. Will the Panthers have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
