Hughson hasn't had much luck against Escalon recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. The Hughson Huskies will challenge the Escalon Cougars at 4:00 p.m. The teams are on pretty different trajectories at the moment (Hughson has three straight victories, Escalon has three straight defeats), but none of that matters once you're on the field.
Hughson took a nine-run loss the last time they faced off against Big Valley Christian, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. Hughson narrowly escaped with a win as the squad sidled past Big Valley Christian 14-13. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Huskies have posted since April 26, 2024.
Kylie Tangney spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered five earned (and eight unearned) runs on 11 hits and racked up 11 Ks.
On the hitting side, Hughson got a big performance out of Leanne Lopez, who scored three runs while going 2-for-4. That's the most runs Lopez has posted since back in February. The team also got some help courtesy of Presley Wells, who scored two runs and stole Three bases. while getting on base in three of her five plate appearances.
Lopez wasn't the only one working in the hit department: Hughson kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. Hughson is a perfect 5-0 when they post 11 or more hits.
Meanwhile, Escalon didn't have quite enough to beat Summerville on Tuesday and fell 10-9. Even though they lost, the Cougars' still made a splash at the plate and bumped their average scoring up to 6.2 runs per game (they're now ranked -1th in scoring overall).
Jayci Trimble led a balanced group of hitters, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 2-for-3. She also launched a home run, marking her first of the season. Ariana Velasco was another key player, scoring a run and stealing Three bases. while going 2-for-4.
Hughson's win was their third straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 6-4-1. Those victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 15.7 runs over those games. As for Escalon, their defeat dropped their record down to 3-6.
Escalon's hitters will have their work cut out for them on Thursday. Hughson has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 8.7 strikeouts per game. It's a different story for Escalon, though, as they've been averaging only 2.7 strikeouts. Will Hughson keep running through batters, or will Escalon buck the trend? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
