Softball Game Preview: Yucaipa Thunderbirds vs. Beaumont Cougars

Yucaipa hasn't had much luck against Beaumont recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. The Thunderbirds will host the Cougars at 4:00 p.m. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Yucaipa 3.9, Beaumont 3.8) so any runs scored will be well earned.

On Tuesday, Yucaipa earned a 7-4 victory over Citrus Valley. The win continues a trend for the Thunderbirds in their matchups with the Blackhawks: they've now won three in a row.

Brooklyn Dent looked comfortable as she pitched 3.2 innings while giving up just one earned run off four hits. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances.

On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Janelle Erickson, who scored two runs while going 2-for-3. What's more, she posted two doubles, the most she's had since back in February. Another player making a difference was Makenna Pettey, who scored two runs while going 2-for-4.

Yucaipa hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. The team has now struck out at least four batters in four consecutive matchups.

Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Beaumont). They came out on top against Cajon by a score of 9-4 on Tuesday. The victory was a breath of fresh air for the Cougars as it put an end to their three-game losing streak.

Beaumont's win bumped their record up to 6-7. As for Yucaipa, their victory bumped their record up to 10-7.

Yucaipa skirted past Beaumont 4-2 when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Will the Thunderbirds repeat their success, or do the Cougars have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.