The Hilliard Darby Panthers will face off against the Pickerington Central Tigers at 5:00 p.m. on Monday. Hilliard Darby will aim to continue their three-game streak of scoring more runs each game than the last.
Hilliard Darby barely beat Upper Arlington the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Panthers blew past the Golden Bears 16-8 on Friday. Considering the Panthers have won nine matchups by more than six runs this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.
Hilliard Darby got a big performance out of Lorelai Gum, who got on base in three of her five plate appearances with one triple, one run, and one RBI. That triple was Gum's first of the season. Another player making a difference was Taylor Cahill, who went 2-for-4 with two runs, two RBI, and one double.
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 eight hits in 18 consecutive contests.
Meanwhile, after soaring to 13 runs the game before, Pickerington Central was a bit more limited in their game on Friday. They lost 7-1 to Liberty Union.
Olivia Achtermann spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered seven runs (all of which were unearned) on seven hits.
On the hitting side, Mycah Massey made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went 2-for-3 with one home run.
Hilliard Darby's victory ended a three-game drought on the road and puts them at 16-6. As for Pickerington Central, their loss dropped their record down to 13-11.
Monday's match 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 .357. However, it's not like Pickerington Central struggles in that department as they've averaged .384. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Hilliard Darby couldn't quite get it done against Pickerington Central in their previous meeting back in May of 2021 as they fell 5-2. Will the Panthers 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.
