The Mathews High School varsity girls’ softball team dropped a pair of non-district games at home this week, falling to Westmoreland last Thursday, 7-4, and getting shut out by King William on Tuesday, 4-0.

In last Thursday’s game, Mathews was trailing, 7-0, going into the bottom of the seventh when the Lady Devils rallied for four runs, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough to overcome the visiting Eagles.

Morgan Crittenden did record 11 strikeouts on the mound, and picked up a single and a run scored on offense. Also contributing hits were Aly Jackson, Ashton Hudgins and Avery Thomas.

In spite of the loss to the Cavaliers, Tuesday’s game “was our best overall performance on defense,” said MHS head coach J.J. Ashberry. “Morgan [Crittenden] pitched an amazing game and other than two errors, our defense was absolutely near the best it could be,” he added.

Multiple big fielding plays and throws from Reese Brock, Christiana Wood and Thomas kept the game within reach and thwarted...