Hanford is 0-10 against Richland since March of 2019 but things could change on Tuesday. The Falcons will venture away from home to take on the Bombers at 4:00 p.m. Hanford is coming into the matchup hot, having won their last eight games.
Hanford is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Washington's top teams: Chiawana, who was ranked 17th at the time (Hanford was ranked tenth). The Falcons walked away with a 9-5 victory over the Riverhawks on Friday. Give some credit to the fans of both teams: the last five times they've met, the home team has come away the winner.
Kenzie Hofstad was incredible, going 3-for-4 with two runs, one triple, and one RBI. Neve Jimenez was another key player, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 1-for-3.
Hofstad wasn't the only one making solid contact: Hanford kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in eight consecutive contests.
Meanwhile, Richland put another one in the bag on Friday to keep their perfect season alive. They were the clear victors by a 13-1 margin over Kamiakin. The result was nothing new for the Bombers, who have now won four games by ten runs or more so far this season.
Emmalee Mohr made a splash no matter where she played. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit over six innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two hits in three consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with one home run and two RBI. That home run marked the first that she launched this season.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Payton Chacon, who scored three runs and stole two bases while going 3-for-4. She has been hot recently, having posted at least one stolen base the last four times she's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Sophia Sams, who scored a run while going 3-for-4.
Hanford's win was their fifth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 10-1. Those home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 8.8 runs over those games. As for Richland, their record now sits at 7-0.
Tuesday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Hanford has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .469. However, it's not like Richland struggles in that department as they've averaged .475. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Hanford came up short against Richland in their previous meeting back in April of 2024, falling 6-3. Can the Falcons avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
