Alameda is 0-3 against Livermore since March of 2016 but things could change on Friday. The Hornets are taking a road trip to challenge the Cowboys at 5:00 p.m. Both teams are coming into the game red-hot, with Alameda sitting on four straight victories and Livermore on five.
Alameda is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Wednesday. They came out on top in a nail-biter against Granada, sneaking past 6-5. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Hornets have posted since April 3rd.
Julia Lambert spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered four earned (and one unearned) runs on five hits and racked up eight Ks.
On the hitting side, Miley Gradney was excellent, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one triple and one run. Desiree Shoblo was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Alameda kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least nine hits in four consecutive contests.
Livermore came out on top against California on Thursday thanks in part to the team's impressive four-run third inning. The Cowboys walked away with a 7-4 victory over the Grizzlies.
Livermore also let their pitcher toss all seven innings and she was also dialed-in: Kaci Norton gave up four earned runs on seven hits.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Payten Williams, who went a perfect 1-for-1 with one home run and three RBI. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in April. Another player making a difference was Kerigan Coates, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run.
Livermore's win was their fourth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 18-8. The road victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.8 runs on average over those games. As for Alameda, their record is now 17-9-1.
Friday's match will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Alameda hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .328. However, it's not like Livermore struggles in that department as they've averaged .337. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Alameda came up short against Livermore when the teams last played back in April, falling 8-4. Can the Hornets avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
