Harlan hasn't had much luck against O'Connor recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Hawks will venture away from home to square off against the Panthers at 5:00 p.m. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Last Tuesday, Harlan was able to grind out a solid win over Sotomayor, taking the game 7-4. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Hawks.
Kaitlyn Taulbert spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and one unearned) runs on seven hits.
On the hitting side, Harlan let Lilly Estrada and Savannah Cuadra run wild. Estrada went 2-for-3 with one home run and two RBI, while Cuadra went 1-for-2 with one home run, two runs, and one stolen base. That's the most hits Estrada has posted since back in February. The team also got some help courtesy of Bella Alvarado, who went 1-for-2 with one run, one double, and one RBI.
They weren't the only ones working in the home run department: Harlan lost a few balls and finished the game with two home runs. That's the most home runs they've managed all season.
Meanwhile, it was a proper cat-fight when O'Connor challenged Sotomayor on Tuesday. The Panthers' pitchers stepped up to hand the WILDCATS a 16-0 shutout. The result was nothing new for the Panthers, who have now won 12 matchups by six runs or more so far this season.
Araceli Alonzo was a standout: she fired off two home runs, three runs, and four RBI while going 2-for-4. Charlotte Briscoe was another key player, going 2-for-3 with one home run, five RBI, and one triple.
The victory got Harlan back to even at 9-9. As for O'Connor, their record now sits at 17-4.
Friday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Harlan hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .345. However, it's not like O'Connor struggles in that department as they've averaged .404. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Harlan suffered a grim 12-2 defeat to O'Connor in their previous meeting back in February. Can the Hawks avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
