The Moreno Valley Vikings will square off against the Rancho Mirage Rattlers at 3:30 p.m. on Friday. Each of these teams will be battling to keep a three-game winning streak alive.
Moreno Valley had to skate by with only a one-run margin when they last took the field, which might have inspired the 15-run drubbing they dealt Rancho Christian on Thursday. The Vikings were the clear victors by a 16-1 margin over the Eagles.
Alexys Vasquez was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, tossing five innings while giving up just one earned run off four hits. She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks in six consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going 3-for-4 with four RBI and one run.
Ximenna Lopez
| 04/17/25 @ Rancho Christian | 7 |
| 04/03/25 vs Perris | 5 |
| 04/10/25 @ Lakeside | 2 |
| 03/12/25 @ Cathedral City | 2 |
| 03/18/25 vs Corona | 1 |
In other batting news, Moreno Valley got a massive performance out of Ximenna Lopez, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with seven stolen bases, three RBI, and one double. Those seven stolen bases gave Lopez a new career-high. Marissa Martinez was another key player, going 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, three runs, and three doubles.
Meanwhile, Rancho Mirage earned a 5-1 victory over Cathedral City last Tuesday.
Like Moreno Valley, Rancho Mirage also got a great game from a two-way player: Anelisa Garcia. She struck out eight batters over seven innings while giving up just one earned run off five hits (and not a single walk). Garcia was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with one home run and two RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Lilian Rocha, who went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, one run, and one double.
Rancho Mirage's win bumped their record up to 9-7. As for Moreno Valley, the victory got them back to even at 7-7.
Friday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Moreno Valley hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .349. However, it's not like Rancho Mirage struggles in that department as they've averaged .345. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other softball content.
