Artesia is 8-2 against Silver since March of 2019 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Friday. The Bulldogs will challenge the Fighting Colts at 11:00 a.m. Both teams are coming into the game red-hot, with Artesia sitting on ten straight wins and Silver on 12.
Artesia is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Thursday. They came out on top against Lovington by a score of 7-2.
Kayden Apodaca
| 05/15/25 vs Lovington | 12 |
| 05/10/25 vs Belen | 13 |
| 05/01/25 @ Portales | 11 |
| 04/29/25 vs Lovington | 7 |
| 04/25/25 vs Goddard | 11 |
| + 3 more games |
Kayden Apodaca was a major factor no matter where she played. On the mound, she struck out 12 batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned runs off five hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in eight consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with one run, one double, and one RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Jenna Whitmire, who went 2-for-4 with two runs, one triple, and two RBI. That triple was her first of the season. Kambry Collins was another key player, going 3-for-4 with one run, one double, and one RBI.
Artesia kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 14 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in nine consecutive matchups.
Meanwhile, Silver faced Aztec in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Thursday. The Fighting Colts blew past the Tigers 7-1. The result was nothing new for the Fighting Colts, who have now won 21 contests by six runs or more so far this season.
Ariel Alvarado spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered a run (which was unearned) on four hits.
On the hitting side, Maria Ruelaz was excellent, going 1-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and one double. Another player making a difference was Isabell Villa, who went 2-for-4 with one triple and one RBI.
Silver pushed their record up to 25-4 with the victory, which was their eighth straight at home. Those home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 13.3 runs over those games. As for Artesia, their record now sits at 22-7.
Both Artesia and Silver just can't seem to miss. The Bulldogs have been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 9.7 hits per game. However, it's not like Silver struggles in that department as they've been averaging only 5.5 hits. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Everything went Artesia's way against Silver when the teams last played back in March, as Artesia made off with a 14-7 victory. Do the Bulldogs have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Fighting Colts turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
