Softball Game Preview: Cactus Shadows Falcons vs. Mesquite Wildcats

For the second straight game, Cactus Shadows will face off against Mesquite. The Falcons will be playing in front of their home fans against the Wildcats at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday. One thing working in Cactus Shadows' favor is that they have posted at least ten runs in their last three matches.

Cactus Shadows is probably headed into the contest with a chip on their shoulder considering Mesquite just ended the team's eight-game winning streak on Monday. They fell just short of the Wildcats by a score of 12-10. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest loss the Falcons have suffered since March 24th.

For Mesquite's part, Liliana Ontiveros spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and four unearned) runs on nine hits. Ontiveros has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than two walks in 11 consecutive appearances.

On the hitting side, Savannah Magallanez and Jasmine Jaramillo did most of the damage at the plate: Magallanez went 2-for-3 with one home run, five RBI, and two runs, while Jaramillo went a perfect 3-for-3 with four RBI, one stolen base, and one run. Those five RBI gave Magallanez a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Olivia Romans, who went 1-for-3 with three runs.

They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Mesquite kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 14 hits. They are 7-3 when they post 11 or more hits.

Cactus Shadows' defeat was their first in the region, dropping their region record down to 8-1 and their overall record down to 18-10. As for Mesquite, their win ended a seven-game drought at home and bumped them up to 7-14.

Mesquite's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Cactus Shadows has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 9 hits per game. It's a different story for Mesquite, though, as they've been averaging 12.7 hits. Given Cactus Shadows' sizable advantage in that area, the Wildcats will need to find a way to close that gap. Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other softball content.