For the first time this season, Foothill will have a chance to prove themselves in a conference matchup on Friday. They will venture away from home to challenge the Fairfield Falcons at 3:30 p.m. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, the two teams will really light up the scoreboard.
Foothill took a loss when they played away from home last Tuesday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Friday. They were the clear victor by a 28-18 margin over San Juan. The victory continues a trend for the Mustangs in their matchups with the Spartans: they've now won three in a row.
Sofia Monroe was a standout: she scored four runs and stole Five bases. while going 4-for-5. The team also got some help courtesy of Ariana James, who scored four runs and stole Four bases. while getting on base in four of her five plate appearances.
Foothill always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .673. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as San Juan only posted an OBP of .509.
Meanwhile, Fairfield hadn't done well against Bethel recently (they were 1-8 in their previous nine matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Thursday. Everything went Fairfield's way against Bethel as Fairfield made off with a 23-1 win.
Karli Robinson made a splash while hitting and pitching. She didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out 11 over five innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two hits any time she's pitched this season. She was also big at the plate, getting on base in all four of her plate appearances with one home run, three RBI, and two runs.
In other batting news, Madylin Micheli and Claudia Lucero did most of the damage at the plate: Micheli went a perfect 4-for-4 with four runs, four RBI, and one triple, while Lucero got on base in all four of her plate appearances with six RBI, three runs, and one triple. Those six RBI gave Lucero a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Bethany Johnson, who scored two runs while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.
Fairfield's first victory this season bumped their record up to 1-2. As for Foothill, they now have a winning record of 2-1.
Foothill's speedy runners might be the difference in Friday's contest. Foothill has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 11 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Fairfield, though, as they've been averaging only 1.3 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Foothill continue to outrun the ball?
Foothill might still be hurting after the 15-3 loss they got from Fairfield when the teams last played back in March of 2024. Can Foothill avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
