The Mercy Magic will look to take advantage of their home field for the first time this season as they take on the John Carroll Patriots at 4:15 p.m. on Friday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, the two teams will really light up the scoreboard.
On Wednesday, Mercy made easy work of St. Paul's Girls and carried off a 17-1 victory.
Mikayla Youngbar was a major factor no matter where she played. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run while striking out 11 over six innings pitched. Youngbar was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 2-for-2.
In other batting news, Alex Workmeister was a standout: she scored three runs and stole a base while going 2-for-4. Another player making a difference was Emma Ecton, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 3-for-4.
Meanwhile, John Carroll entered their tilt with Maryvale Prep on Friday with two consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with three. They came out on top against Maryvale Prep by a score of 13-9. The Patriots' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
Like Mercy, John Carroll also got a great game from a two-way player: Emily Hildt. On the mound, Hildt pitched two innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off two hits. Meanwhile, Savannah Claycomb pitched five innings while giving up just two earned (and five unearned) runs off nine hits. Hildt has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two hits any time she's pitched this season. At the plate, Hildt scored a run while going 2-for-4, while Claycomb scored three runs and stole a base while getting on base in three of her five plate appearances.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Kallissa Coats, who fired off two home runs, five RBI, and three runs while going 2-for-3. Those home runs marked the first that she launched this season. Ryan Pindell was another key player, scoring three runs while going 2-for-2.
John Carroll 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 three consecutive contests.
John Carroll's win was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 4-1. Those victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 11.3 runs over those games. As for Mercy, the win got them back to even at 1-1.
Mercy might still be hurting after the 14-4 loss they got from John Carroll in their previous meeting back in May of 2023. Will Mercy have more luck at home instead of on the road? Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other softball content.
