vs
| 04/22/24 - Home | 11-1 W |
| 04/06/17 - Home | 3-2 W |
| 04/28/16 - Home | 14-0 W |
| 04/15/15 - Home | 16-2 W |
Saint Mary is a perfect 4-0 against Head-Royce since April of 2015 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Thursday. The Panthers will take on the Jayhawks at 4:00 p.m. Saint Mary's has given up an average of 9.9 runs per game this season, but Thursday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
The home team had won the previous three meetings between Saint Mary's and Pinole Valley, and Pinole Valley kept the tradition alive. The Panthers lost 12-1 to the Spartans on Wednesday. The Panthers have struggled against the Spartans recently, as the game was their ninth consecutive lost meeting.
Aoife Shen was cooking despite her team's loss, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 2-for-3.
Meanwhile, Head-Royce came into Wednesday's match having lost four straight, but that streak is now in the rearview. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 5-3 win over Hercules on Wednesday. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Jayhawks have posted since March 15, 2024.
Juno Yu made a splash no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out 12 batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off five hits (and only one walk). That's the most strikeouts she has posted since back in April of 2024. She was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 1-for-2.
In other batting news, Sienna Howard was incredible, going a perfect 2-for-2 with two runs, one triple, and one stolen base. She is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as she's now snagged at least one in each of the last five games she's played dating back to last season.
Head-Royce's record now sits at 2-5. As for Saint Mary's, their defeat dropped their record down to 4-7.
Saint Mary's took their win against Head-Royce when the teams last played back in April of 2024 by a conclusive 11-1 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Panthers since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
