Softball Game Preview: Bakersfield Christian Eagles vs. Independence Falcons

For the second straight game, Bakersfield Christian will face off against Independence. The Eagles will host the Falcons at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Bakersfield Christian will be looking to extend their current four-game winning streak.

Bakersfield Christian's pitching crew heads into the match hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Wednesday. They blew past Independence 10-0. The Eagles might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won 11 games by six runs or more this season.

Anabell Hinojosa

Batters Struck Out

04/30/25 @ Independence	15
04/25/25 @ Bakersfield	10
04/23/25 vs Bakersfield	20
04/18/25 @ Arbor View	16
04/17/25 @ Liberty	10
+ 17 more games

Nobody will forget Anabell Hinojosa's heroic performance anytime soon (especially Independence's batters): she turned in a perfect game. Hinojosa has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't tossed less than seven strikeouts in 22 consecutive appearances.

On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Dakoda Hilvers, who went 3-for-4 with four RBI, one stolen base, and one run. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in April of 2024. Tia Nichols was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two runs, one stolen base, and one double.

Bakersfield Christian's victory was their third straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 18-8. The road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 7.0 runs over those games. As for Independence, they have been struggling recently as they've lost three of their last four contests. That's put a noticeable dent in their 9-9 record this season.

The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Friday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Bakersfield Christian has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 9.9 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Independence struggles in that department as they've been averaging 8.8 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one. Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other softball content.