Softball Game Preview: MacArthur Brahmas vs. Harlandale Indians

The MacArthur Brahmas will head out to face off against the Harlandale Indians at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Neither of those teams managed to put together many runs in their previous contests, so the offenses might be a little more motivated than usual.

MacArthur is headed into the match having just suffered their closest defeat since April 2, 2024 on Wednesday. They fell just short of Antonian Prep by a score of 4-2. The Brahmas have struggled against the Apaches recently, as the game was their third consecutive lost meetings.

Kaylin Salazar spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and one unearned) runs on five hits.

On the hitting side, Averi Alderete was cooking despite her team's loss, going 2-for-3 with one home run and two runs. That home run marked the first that she launched this season.

Even though they lost, MacArthur hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now struck out at most three strikeouts in three consecutive contests.

Meanwhile, Harlandale fell victim to South San Antonio and their airtight pitching crew on Tuesday. They might be feeling deja-vu: they lost 14-0 to the Bobcats, which was the same score (and result) they got the week prior. The Indians have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.

MacArthur's loss dropped their record down to 7-9-1. As for Harlandale, their defeat dropped their record down to 7-9.

Friday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. MacArthur hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .316. However, it's not like Harlandale struggles in that department as they've averaged .370. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.

MacArthur took their victory against Harlandale in their previous matchup back in February by a conclusive 7-0. The rematch might be a little tougher for MacArthur since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.