Softball Game Preview: Shadow Creek Sharks vs. Dobie Longhorns

The Shadow Creek Sharks are taking a road trip to square off against the Dobie Longhorns at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The last three games Shadow Creek has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.

Shadow Creek will roll into the match after a wild two-game stretch: they only put up two runs on Tuesday, then bounced right back against Dawson on Friday. Shadow Creek skirted past Dawson 12-11. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Sharks have posted since February 10th.

Meanwhile, after only two runs in their last contest, Dobie made sure to put some runs up on the board against Pasadena Memorial on Monday. Dobie blew past Pasadena Memorial 16-1. Considering the Longhorns have won eight games by more than five runs this season, Monday's blowout was nothing new.

Vanessa De La Fuente looked comfortable as she struck out six batters over three innings while giving up just one earned run off one hit (and not a single walk). She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in five consecutive appearances.

At the plate, Natalie De Hoyos was incredible, going 3-for-4 with one home run, three runs, and three RBI. That's the most runs she has posted since back in February. Alexis Martinez was another key player, scoring two runs while going 2-for-3.

Dobie was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .643. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .300 or higher in four consecutive matchups.

Dobie is on a roll lately: they've won three of their last four contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 12-9 record this season. Those victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.5 runs over those games. Shadow Creek's record is now 9-12.

Shadow Creek couldn't quite get it done against Dobie in their previous meeting back in March as they fell 11-7. Can Shadow Creek avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.