vs
| 03/18/24 - Home | 17-4 W |
| 03/20/23 - Home | 11-1 W |
| 03/23/22 - Home | 12-2 W |
| 03/14/22 - Away | 2-0 W |
| 04/27/21 - Away | 18-5 W |
| + 5 more games |
Bear River is 9-1 against Placer since May of 2017 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Thursday. Bear River will venture away from home to challenge Placer at 4:00 p.m. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, the two teams will really light up the scoreboard.
Bear River had to skate by with only a two-run margin when they last took the field, which might have inspired the 15-run drubbing they dealt Marysville on Tuesday. Bear River's pitcher stepped up to hand Marysville a 15-0 shutout. That 15 run margin sets a new team best for the Bruins this season.
Ana Marin Hemings made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run while striking out six over five innings pitched. She also allowed three hits, marking her first of the season. She was also big at the plate, scoring a run while going 2-for-4.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Taryn Cleek, who scored four runs and stole a base while going 4-for-4. That's the most runs she has posted since back in April of 2024. Ella Northup was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 1-for-3.
Bear River kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 15 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least 11 hits in three consecutive matches.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Placer). They were the clear victors by a 21-5 margin over Foresthill on Wednesday. The Hillmen might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won eight games by six runs or more this season.
Like Bear River, Placer also got a great game from a two-way player: Ever WileyPearson. She pitched seven innings while giving up just two earned (and three unearned) runs off eight hits. WileyPearson has been consistent : she hasn't given up more than two walks in six consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going 4-for-6 with three runs, one triple, and one double.
In other batting news, Carly Rice was incredible, going 3-for-5 with one home run, six RBI, and two runs. Another player making a difference was Livia WileyPearson, who got on base in four of her five plate appearances with four RBI, two runs, and one triple.
Placer pushed their record up to 9-3 with the victory, which was their sixth straight on the road. Those wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 14.2 runs over those games. As for Bear River, their record now sits at 5-2.
Thursday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Bear River has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .486. However, it's not like Placer struggles in that department as they've averaged .479. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Everything went Bear River's way against Placer in their previous meeting back in March of 2024, as Bear River made off with a 17-4 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for Bear River since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
