Gilbert had lost three straight on the road, but on Monday they dropped down to 8-13 to make it four. They came up short against the Higley Knights, falling 17-7. The result was an unpleasant reminder to the Tigers of the 12-9 defeat they experienced in the pair's previous head-to-head fixture back in April of 2025.
Rikki Imel was cooking despite her team's loss, going 2-for-3 with three RBI, one triple, and one run. Another player making a difference was Somiya Bryant, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with one run and one double.
As for Higley, the win snapped their losing streak at 12 games and leaves them with a 6-16 record. They not only won on Monday, but they posted their biggest win since March 6th (when they won 19-2).
On Higley's side, Suriana Abeyta made a splash no matter where she played. On the mound, she pitched three innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off three hits. Abeyta was also solid in the batter's box, going 3-for-5 with two runs and one RBI. That's the most hits she has posted since back in March.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Zoie Van Hoek, who went 3-for-4 with one home run, three runs, and four RBI. What's more, she posted two doubles, the most she's had since back in February. Ella Babcock was another key player, going 3-for-5 with two runs, one triple, and one stolen base.
Coming up, Higley will challenge Pinnacle at 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday. The Knights' pitchers better be ready for this one: the Pioneers have averaged an impressive 9 runs per game this season. Gilbert will be paying especially close attention to Higley's contest: after Higley faces off against Pinnacle, they'll take on Gilbert again at 3:45 p.m. on Thursday.
