Lovington is a perfect 10-0 against Portales since April of 2022 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Tuesday. The Wildcats will be playing at home against the Rams at 5:00 p.m. The last four games Lovington has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.
Last Friday, Lovington narrowly escaped with a win as the team sidled past Roswell 4-2. The victory continues a trend for the Wildcats in their matchups with the Coyotes: they've now won six in a row.
Daphne Utajara spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned runs on five hits and racked up ten Ks. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't tossed less than seven strikeouts in ten consecutive appearances.
Zabri Rodriguez
| 04/11/25 vs Roswell | 2 |
| 04/08/25 vs Dexter | 1 |
| 04/04/25 @ Atrisco Heritage Academy | 1 |
| 03/13/25 @ Hobbs | 1 |
| 02/25/25 vs Santa Teresa | 1 |
| + 7 more games |
On the hitting side, Zabri Rodriguez was excellent, going 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI. That's the most doubles she has posted since back in March of 2024. Another player making a difference was Honey Morales, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI and one double.
Lovington hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. The team has now struck out at least four batters in four consecutive matchups.
Meanwhile, Portales was not able to break out of their rough patch on Saturday as the team picked up their third straight loss. They were a single run away from ending the streak, but they lost a 4-3 heartbreaker at the hands of Robertson.
Annaleah Lujan put in work while hitting and pitching. She struck out nine batters over six innings while giving up just one earned (and three unearned) runs off six hits (and not a single walk). The dominant performance also gave her a new career-low in walks (zero). She was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-3 with one home run and two RBI.
In other batting news, Myleigh Banda was cooking despite her team's loss, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 2-for-3.
Portales' defeat dropped their record down to 9-8. As for Lovington, their win bumped their record up to 12-5.
Tuesday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Lovington hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .332. However, it's not like Portales struggles in that department as they've averaged .339. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Everything went Lovington's way against Portales in their previous matchup back in April of 2024, as Lovington made off with a 10-0 victory. Will the Wildcats repeat their success, or do the Rams have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
