Espanola Valley is 2-8 against Moriarty since April of 2022 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Wednesday. The Sundevils will look to defend their home field against the Pintos at 4:00 p.m. Espanola Valley has given up an average of 12.7 runs per game this season, but Wednesday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Espanola Valley managed to slip by Pojoaque Valley the last time these teams faced off, but didn't have those same answers this time around. The Sundevils came up short against the Elks/Elkettes on Tuesday, falling 17-8.
Nayleah Martinez made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went a perfect 4-for-4 with two stolen bases, four RBI, and one triple. That triple was her first of the season. Gabriella Segura was another key player, going 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI.
Meanwhile, Moriarty entered their tilt with Taos on Wednesday with two consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with three. Their pitcher stepped up to hand the Tigers a 17-0 shutout. The result was nothing new for the Pintos, who have now won 15 matches by eight runs or more so far this season.
Isabella Gallegos made a splash no matter where she played. On the mound, she pitched three innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one earned run in five consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 1-for-2 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs.
In other batting news, Moriarty got a massive performance out of Emma Rodriguez, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with three runs, three RBI, and one stolen base. Another player making a difference was Kristina Means, who got on base in all three of her plate appearances with three runs, one stolen base, and two RBI.
Moriarty always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .808. They are a perfect 12-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Moriarty pushed their record up to 16-6 with the victory, which was their third straight at home. The home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.3 runs on average over those games. As for Espanola Valley, their defeat dropped their record down to 5-18.
Wednesday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Espanola Valley hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .463. However, it's not like Moriarty struggles in that department as they've averaged .387. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Espanola Valley might still be hurting after the 16-2 loss they got from Moriarty in their previous meeting last Saturday. Will the Sundevils have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
