Reading is 0-10 against Taylor since April of 2019 but things could change on Friday. The Blue Devils will square off against the Yellowjackets at 5:00 p.m. Reading is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 11 runs per game this season.
Indian Hill hit Reading with a five-run seventh inning on Wednesday, which goes a long way in explaining the final result. The Blue Devils fell 10-6 to the Braves.
Maddie Berry was cooking despite her team's loss, going 2-for-3 with two runs, two RBI, and one double. The team also got some help courtesy of Brooke Androne, who went 1-for-4 with one stolen base, one run, and one double.
Meanwhile, Taylor came tearing into Tuesday's game with three straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 13.7 runs), and they left with even more momentum. They beat the Saints by the very same score they won with in their prior game: 22-1. The Yellowjackets might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won 13 contests by six runs or more this season.
Ady Franke was a major factor no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out six batters over five innings while giving up just one earned run off four hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in three consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, getting on base in four of her five plate appearances with one RBI.
In other batting news, Emma King and Ellie Stafford did most of the damage at the plate: King went 4-for-5 with one home run, six RBI, and three runs, while Stafford went 3-for-4 with five RBI, one triple, and one stolen base. Stafford has been hot recently, having posted three or more hits the last three times she's played. Another player making a difference was Bailey Back, who went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one double.
Taylor was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .567. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .500 or higher in four consecutive matchups.
Reading's loss dropped their record down to 9-6. As for Taylor, their record now sits at 14-3.
Both the two teams just can't seem to miss. Reading has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 9.9 hits per game. However, it's not like Taylor struggles in that department as they've been averaging only 2.8 hits. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Reading suffered a grim 10-0 defeat to Taylor when the teams last played two weeks ago. Can the Blue Devils avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
