Softball Recap: Avenal Drops Season-High Score on Mendota

Buccaneers

Margin (Wins)

03/07/25 @ Coast Union	20
05/08/25 @ Mendota	16
02/28/25 vs Kings Christian	15
04/15/25 vs Orosi	14
03/28/25 vs Orosi	14

Winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Avenal). They put the hurt on the Mendota Aztecs with a sharp 23-7 win on Thursday. Considering the Buccaneers have won 14 matches by more than seven runs this season, Thursday's blowout was nothing new.

Khloe Nieto was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She didn't allow a single earned run over five innings pitched. She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, getting on base in four of her five plate appearances with eight stolen bases and four runs. Those four runs gave her a new career-high.

In other batting news, Natalia Ruiz and Layla Lopez did most of the damage at the plate: Ruiz went 3-for-5 with one home run, four runs, and two stolen bases, while Lopez went a perfect 4-for-4 with one home run, five RBI, and three runs. Those three hits gave Ruiz a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Malia Parez, who went 2-for-6 with two stolen bases, three RBI, and two runs.

Avenal lost a few balls and finished the game with three home runs. That's the most home runs they've managed all season.

Avenal has been performing well recently as they've won six of their last eight contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 17-6-1 record this season. The victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 11.1 runs over those games. As for Mendota, they are on a three-game losing streak that has dropped them down to 6-19.

Coming up, Avenal will square off against Tranquillity at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday. The Tigers have struggled to contain batters this season (they've allowed 17.94 runs per game on average), something the Buccaneers will no doubt try to take advantage of. As for Mendota, they are taking a road trip to take on Firebaugh at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday. The Eagles have struggled to contain batters this season (they've allowed 13.62 runs per game on average), something the Aztecs will no doubt try to take advantage of.