The Chiawana Riverhawks will head out to face off against the Kennewick Lions at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Chiawana knows how to get runs on the board -- the squad has finished with ten runs or more in their past four matches -- so hopefully Kennewick likes a good challenge.
On Friday, Chiawana earned a 12-9 win over Hermiston. The Riverhawks haven't had any issues with the Bulldogs recently, as the game was their fifth consecutive victory against them.
Alyssa Melendez and Jessica Melendez did most of the damage at the plate: Alyssa got on base in all four of her plate appearances with three runs, two RBI, and one double, while Jessica went 3-for-4 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI. Another player making a difference was Chase Wirt, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI and one double.
Chiawana was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .414. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .361 or higher in four consecutive contests.
Meanwhile, Kennewick didn't have quite enough to beat Southridge on Tuesday and fell 4-3. The Lions haven't had much luck with the Suns recently, as the team has come up short the last five times they've met.
Rylee Bendewald was cooking despite her team's loss, going 1-for-2 with one home run and two runs.
Chiawana's win was their fifth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 11-4. The home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 12.8 runs over those games. As for Kennewick, their loss dropped their record down to 7-9.
Tuesday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Chiawana has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .512. However, it's not like Kennewick struggles in that department as they've averaged .432. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Everything went Chiawana's way against Kennewick in their previous meeting back in March of 2024, as Chiawana made off with a 19-0 win. Do the Riverhawks have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Lions turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
