The Brandon Blackhawks will challenge the Holly Bronchos at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. The two teams each escaped (but just barely!) with wins against their previous opponents.
Brandon took a loss when they played away from home on Monday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Wednesday. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 5-4 win over Byron. The victory was some much needed relief for the Blackhawks as it spelled an end to their three-game losing streak.
Vivianne Muehlheim spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered five earned runs on 13 hits and racked up seven Ks.
On the hitting side, Brandon got a big performance out of Katelyn Wheatcroft, who got on base in all four of her plate appearances with one run, one double, and one RBI. The team also got some help courtesy of Avery Odinga, who went 3-for-4 with two RBI and one double.
While Holly didn't have the best season last year (they finished 8-14), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. They skirted past Detroit Country Day 10-8.
Alyssa Bowman (2026) made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out 12 batters over seven innings while giving up six earned (and two unearned) runs off seven hits. With that strong performance, she is now averaging an impressive 5.9 strikeouts per game. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with one home run and three RBI.
In other batting news, Briella Musgrove (2029) was incredible, going 3-for-4 with one home run, three runs, and three RBI. That home run marked the first that she has launched this season. Jaelynn Mortinsen (2028) was another key player, getting on base in four of her five plate appearances with three stolen bases, one run, and one RBI.
Holly's win bumped their record up to 7-3. As for Brandon, their victory bumped their record up to 4-6.
Thursday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Brandon hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .397. However, it's not like Holly struggles in that department as they've averaged .408. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
