The Pioneer Mustangs will take on the Prospect Panthers at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
Wednesday just wasn't the day for Pioneer's offense. They lost 10-0 to Christopher on Wednesday. The Mustangs have struggled against the Cougars recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive lost meeting.
Pioneer saw six different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Gizelle Ortiz, who went 1-for-2 with one stolen base.
Meanwhile, Prospect entered their tilt with Harker on Wednesday with six consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with seven. Their pitcher stepped up to hand the Eagles a 15-0 shutout. The result was nothing new for the Panthers, who have now won ten matches by six runs or more so far this season.
Kendall Tabora made a big impact no matter where she played. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out six over five innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in seven consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with two RBI and one run.
In other batting news, Sydney Slezak and Dani Rauscher did most of the damage at the plate: Slezak went 3-for-4 with one home run, three runs, and three RBI, while Rauscher went a perfect 4-for-4 with three stolen bases, two runs, and one RBI. That's the most hits Rauscher has posted since back in March of 2024. Bella Beltran was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two runs, one triple, and one RBI.
Prospect pushed their record up to 12-4 with the victory, which was their fifth straight at home. Those home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.2 runs on average over those games. As for Pioneer, their defeat dropped their record down to 4-11.
Tuesday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Pioneer hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .317. However, it's not like Prospect struggles in that department as they've averaged .355. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Pioneer might still be hurting after the 8-0 loss they got from Prospect when the teams last played back in March. Will the Mustangs have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
