Softball Game Preview: Mandarin Mustangs vs. Clay Blue Devils

Mustangs

Runs

03/06/26 @ Bishop Snyder	6
03/04/26 vs Bishop Kenny	5
03/03/26 @ Atlantic Coast	3
02/27/26 @ Creekside	8
02/24/26 @ Paxon School For Advanced Studies	1
+ 3 more games

The Mandarin Mustangs will challenge the Clay Blue Devils at 6:00 p.m. on Monday. Mandarin is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.1 runs per game this season.

Having struggled with four losses in a row, Mandarin turned things around against Bishop Snyder on Friday. They walked away with a 6-1 win over the Cardinals.

Kyra Ashton spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on three hits and racked up six Ks.

At the plate, the team relied heavily on Gracianna Peck-Headley, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, four RBI, and two doubles. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in April of 2025. Ava Carter was another key player, going 1-for-3 with one home run and two RBI.

The scorekeeper got an easy start on Friday as neither Clay nor Ridgeview made it on the board until the seventh inning. The Blue Devils fell just short of the Panthers by a score of 4-2. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest defeat the Blue Devils have suffered since April 1, 2025.

Clay also let their pitcher toss all seven innings and she was also dialed-in: Malia Collins gave up only one earned (and three unearned) runs on seven hits and racked up nine Ks. Those nine strikeouts set a new season-high mark for Collins.

Clay has been struggling recently as they've lost five of their last six contests. That's put a noticeable dent in their 3-5 record this season. As for Mandarin, their victory bumped their record up to 3-5.

Mandarin came out on top in a nail-biter against Clay when the teams last played back in April of 2025, sneaking past 8-6. Do the Mustangs have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Blue Devils turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.