Softball Game Preview: Nogales Nobles vs. Duarte Falcons

Nogales and Duarte are an even 5-5 against one another since April of 2019, but likely not for long. Nogales will take on Duarte at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. Nogales has given up an average of 13.4 runs per game this season, but Thursday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.

Nogales headed into their last game having not scored more than two runs for three straight, but Azusa let them put that streak behind them. Nogales walked away with a 14-11 win over Azusa on Tuesday. The victory was some much needed relief for the Nobles as it spelled an end to their five-game losing streak.

Molia Halaholo was a major factor no matter where she played. On the mound, she struck out six batters over 6.2 innings while giving up just one earned (and six unearned) runs off eight hits. Halaholo was also big at the plate, going 4-for-5 with two RBI and one double.

Jayda Eaton

Hits (Career)

03/25/25 vs Azusa	4
03/04/25 vs Bolsa Grande	2
03/20/25 @ Sierra Vista	1
03/18/25 @ Los Altos	1
03/07/25 @ Buena Park	1

In other batting news, Jayda Eaton and Elisabeth Jimenez-Carrillo did most of the damage at the plate: Eaton scored two runs and stole two bases while going 4-for-5, while Jimenez-Carrillo scored two runs and stole two bases while going 2-for-4. Those four hits gave Eaton a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Lizbeth Salazar, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 2-for-3.

Nogales kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 18 hits. That's the most hits they've managed all season.

Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Duarte). They never let Baldwin Park get on the board and left with a 31-0 win on Tuesday. Perhaps unsurprisingly given the team's high-flying offense, the game also marked the team's biggest victory of the season.

Duarte has been performing incredibly well recently as they've won six of their last seven contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 8-3 record this season. The wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.1 runs on average over those games. Nogales' record is now 3-8.

Nogales might still be hurting after the 23-0 defeat they got from Duarte in their previous matchup back in April of 2024. Can Nogales avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.