UNITED GETS THROUGH A FIGHT FROM INDIANS

HANOVERTON OH-  Payten Kekel was dealing on Friday, and United rode her arm to a 4-2 win over Southern Local in a tight one.

Kekel was lights out in the circle, striking out 11 and holding Southern to just three hits over five innings. She worked around five walks but never let things get away, locking in when it mattered most.

Southern got on the board first with a rocket to right from Kennedy Lewis in the opening inning, but United answered right back. Brittany Miller brought in the tying run with a sac fly, and Grace Coffee followed with an RBI single to knot things at 2-2.

United took control in the third. Chloe Angelo worked a walk, then an error helped bring in another run. Add one more off a Southern miscue, and the Golden Eagles were up for good.

Addy Martin took the loss for Southern, giving up four runs—only two earned—across four innings of work.

At the plate, United got one hit apiece from Angelo, Coffee, and Callie Koons. Coffee and Miller each knocked in a run, while the defense and Kekel did the rest.

For Southern, Lewis provided the pop with two RBIs, while Pecorelli and Carosiello added base hits. Aubree Pucci worked two walks as Southern showed solid discipline at the dish with five free passes. Next up, United hits the road Monday for a matchup with Carrollton, looking to keep the momentum rolling.