Softball Preview: Firebaugh Eagles vs. Avenal Buccaneers
Firebaugh is 8-2 against Avenal since April of 2019, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Friday. The Firebaugh Eagles will head out on the road to face off against the Avenal Buccaneers at 4:30 p.m. Both teams come into the contest bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Firebaugh is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Wednesday. They had just enough and edged Farmersville out 13-11. The win was some much needed relief for Firebaugh as it spelled an end to their four-game losing streak.
Ja'Dyn Jenkins was a standout: she scored four runs and stole four bases while going 4-for-4. Anabelle Alaniz was another key contributor, scoring two runs and stealing five bases while going 2-for-3.
Meanwhile, Avenal had already won two in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 14 runs), and they went ahead and made it three on Wednesday. They skirted past the Saints 6-4.
Khloe Nieto made a big impact no matter where she played. She tossed four innings while giving up just one earned (and three unearned) runs off three hits. Nieto was also big at the plate, scoring a run and stealing two bases while going 1-for-3. She is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as she's now stolen at least one in the last three games she's played.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Lauryn Lucero, who scored a run and stole a base while going 2-for-3. She has been hot recently, having posted at least one stolen base the last seven times she's played. Another player making a difference was Natalia Ruiz, who scored a run and stole a base while getting on base in two of her three plate appearances.
Firebaugh's record is now 11-16. As for Avenal, their record now sits at 16-9.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Friday as neither team is afraid to steal. Firebaugh has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 6.9 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Avenal struggles in that department as they've been averaging 7.8. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Firebaugh suffered a grim 14-5 defeat to Avenal in their previous matchup last Tuesday. A big factor in that loss was the dominant performance of Ruiz, who fired off two home runs, three stolen bases, and six RBI while going 4-for-5. Now that Firebaugh knows the damage she can cause, will they be able to stop her this time? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
