Softball Preview: Ponderosa Bruins vs. Capital Christian Cougars
The Ponderosa Bruins will square off against the Capital Christian Cougars at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Ponderosa is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Thursday. They were the clear victor by a 9-2 margin over Rosemont. The win was nothing new for Ponderosa as they're now sitting on five straight.
Chase Mueller made a big impact no matter where she played. On the mound, she struck out seven batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned runs off five hits (and only one walk). Mueller has been consistent recently: she hasn't pitched less than six innings in six consecutive pitching appearances. Mueller was also solid in the batter's box, going 3-for-4 with a double.
In other batting news, Brynn Escobar was incredible, going 3-for-4 with a home run, five RBI, and two runs. Brooklynn Nordquist was another key contributor, going 1-for-2 with a home run.
Meanwhile, Capital Christian waltzed into their matchup on Thursday with seven straight wins... but they left with eight. Their pitcher stepped up to hand the Falcons a 6-0 shutout.
Like Ponderosa, Capital Christian also got a great game from a two-way player: Ayla Tuua. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and only one hit while striking out 14 over seven innings pitched. Tuua was also big at the plate, scoring two runs and stealing a base while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Alannah Tuua, who got on base in all four of her plate appearances with a stolen base and an RBI. Another player making a difference was Bree Johnson, who scored a run while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.
Ponderosa has been performing incredibly well recently as they've won nine of their last ten contests, which provided a nice bump to their 20-5 record this season. As for Capital Christian, their victory bumped their record up to 22-2-1.
Tuesday's game will be a test for both team's pitchers. Ponderosa hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .425. However, it's not like Capital Christian struggles in that department as they've averaged .366. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Ponderosa took their win against Capital Christian when the teams last played back in March of 2022 by a conclusive 11-1. The rematch might be a little tougher for Ponderosa since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
