Maclay hasn't had much luck against North Florida Christian recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. The Marauders will square off against the Eagles at 4:30 p.m. Maclay has given up an average of 19.8 runs per game this season, but Thursday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Maclay came up short against North Florida Christian on Thursday, falling 18-1. The matchup marked the Marauders' lowest-scoring contest so far this season.
For North Florida Christian's part, Skylar Young made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, pitching two innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. Young was even better at the plate, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, six RBI, and two doubles. Those six RBI gave her a new career-high.
In other batting news, Brynlee Pafford was a standout: she went a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs, two doubles, and two RBI. That's the most hits she has posted since back in February. Reese Sparkman was another key player, going a perfect 2-for-2 with three RBI, one triple, and one run.
North Florida Christian always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .767. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Maclay only posted an OBP of .364.
North Florida Christian's victory was their fourth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 16-5. Those road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 12.5 runs over those games. As for Maclay, their defeat dropped their record down to 0-6.
Thursday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Maclay has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .500. However, it's not like North Florida Christian struggles in that department as they've averaged .474. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
