Liberty hasn't had much luck against Shadow Ridge recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. The Patriots will venture away from home to challenge the Mustangs at 3:30 p.m. Shadow Ridge took a loss in their last matchup and will be looking to turn the tables on Liberty, who comes in off a win.
Liberty is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Nevada's top teams: Coronado, who was ranked ninth at the time (Liberty was ranked seventh). The Patriots put the hurt on the Cougars with a sharp 12-5 victory on Tuesday. The Patriots not only won on Tuesday, but they posted their biggest win since March 14th.
Charlotte Crittenden tossed a big game, pitching five innings while giving up just two earned runs off six hits. Those hits marked the first that she allowed this season.
On the hitting side, Jaydah Chun and Ciana Cubi did most of the damage at the plate: Chun scored three runs while going 4-for-5, while Cubi went 3-for-5 with three RBI, two runs, and one triple. That's the most hits Cubi has posted since back in March. Another player making a difference was Presley Crowder, who scored a run while going 1-for-4.
Liberty kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 15 hits. That's the most hits they've managed all season.
Meanwhile, Shadow Ridge fought the good fight in their extra-innings game against Centennial on Tuesday but wound up with a less-than-desirable result. They fell just short of the Bulldogs by a score of 4-3.
Katelynn Quidato spent all eight innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned (and two unearned) runs on 11 hits and racked up seven Ks.
At the plate, Madison Foster was cooking despite her team's loss, getting on base in four of her five plate appearances with one home run and two RBI. The team also got some help courtesy of Aleana Aionaaka, who scored two runs and stole two bases while going 3-for-5.
Liberty's record is now 9-3-2. As for Shadow Ridge, they have traveled a rocky road recently, having lost four of their last five contests. That's put a noticeable dent in their 9-5 record this season.
Thursday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Liberty hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .338. However, it's not like Shadow Ridge struggles in that department as they've averaged .391. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Liberty might still be hurting after the 10-0 loss they got from Shadow Ridge when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Can the Patriots avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
