Softball Game Preview: Hillcrest Trojans vs. Los Osos Grizzlies

The Hillcrest Trojans will face off against the Los Osos Grizzlies at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday. The two teams each escaped (but just barely!) with wins against their previous opponents.

Hillcrest took a loss when they played away from home on Saturday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Monday. They skirted past Citrus Valley 5-4.

Hillcrest got a great performance from Ashley James as she struck out six batters over five innings while giving up three earned (and one unearned) runs off seven hits.

At the plate, Nicole Riddell was excellent, scoring two runs while going 2-for-2. Sarah Mcdowell was another key player, scoring a run while going 2-for-3.

Hillcrest was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .417. That's the best batting average they've posted all season.

Meanwhile, Los Osos waltzed into their matchup on Tuesday with four straight wins... but they left with five. They came out on top in a nail-biter against the SkyHawks, sneaking past 4-2. While the Grizzlies didn't have the best season last year (they finished 8-15-1), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.

Abigail Merchant made a splash while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, tossing three innings while giving up no earned runs off three hits. She has been consistent : she hasn't given up more than two walks in seven consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-4 with one home run.

Los Osos pushed their record up to 6-2-1 with the win, which was their fourth straight at home. Those victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.8 runs over those games. As for Hillcrest, they now have a winning record of 4-3.

Wednesday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Hillcrest hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having got 0 of their hits per game. However, it's not like Los Osos struggles in that department as they've got 0 of their hits this season. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.