Softball Game Preview: El Monte Lions vs. Gabrielino Eagles

El Monte has gone a perfect 10-0 against Gabrielino recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Friday. The Lions will venture away from home to challenge the Eagles at 3:30 p.m. Gabrielino took a loss in their last match and will be looking to turn the tables on El Monte, who comes in off a win.

El Monte will bounce into Friday's contest after beating Arroyo, who they had gone 2-7 against in their nine prior meetings. The Lions came out on top against the Knights by a score of 7-4 on Friday. The victory was some much needed relief for the Lions as it spelled an end to their five-game losing streak.

Eve Reyes spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned (and three unearned) runs on six hits and racked up seven Ks.

Naima Rodriguez

Doubles (Career)

03/28/25 vs Arroyo	2
02/27/25 vs Bell Gardens	1
04/19/24 vs Mountain View	1
03/20/24 vs Rosemead	1
03/01/24 vs Wilson	1

On the hitting side, El Monte let Naima Rodriguez and Sophia Herrera run wild. Rodriguez scored a run while going 2-for-3, while Herrera scored two runs while going 1-for-2. The dominant performance also gave Rodriguez a new career-high in doubles (two). Victoria Valdez also deserves some recognition as she scored her first run of the season.

Meanwhile, Gabrielino fell victim to South El Monte and their airtight pitching crew on Wednesday. They lost 13-0 to South El Monte. Gabrielino just can't catch a break and has now endured six losses in a row.

El Monte's win bumped their record up to 3-5. As for Gabrielino, their defeat dropped their record down to 1-6.

El Monte took their victory against Gabrielino in their previous meeting back in April of 2024 by a conclusive 16-2 score. Do the Lions have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Eagles turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.