The Lopez Lobos are taking a road trip to face off against the Mercedes Tigers at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Lopez will roll into the matchup after a wild two-game stretch: they didn't score any runs on Tuesday, then bounced right back against Edcouch-Elsa on Friday. The Lobos put the hurt on the Yellowjackets with a sharp 10-3 victory. The win continues a trend for the Lobos in their matchups with the Yellowjackets: they've now won four in a row.
Jenny Shank made a big impact no matter where she played. She struck out six batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off six hits (and not a single walk). Shank was also stellar in the batter's box, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, four RBI, and two runs.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Chalene Granado, who scored three runs while going 3-for-3. Another player making a difference was Cayley Granado, who scored two runs while going 2-for-3.
Lopez kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 15 hits. That's the most hits they've posted since back in April of 2024.
Meanwhile, Mercedes waltzed into their contest on Friday with four straight wins... but they left with five. They narrowly escaped with a victory as the squad sidled past the Raiders 6-4.
Like Lopez, Mercedes also got a great game from a two-way player: Aleeyah Sierra. On the mound, she struck out six batters over three innings while giving up just two earned (and two unearned) runs off four hits (and not a single walk). Sierra has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one walk in seven consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, scoring a run while going 2-for-3.
In other batting news, Josie Alvarado was excellent, going 1-for-4 with one home run. That home run was her first of the season. Kayla Garza was another key player, scoring two runs while going 2-for-4.
Lopez's win was their fifth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 13-8. Those home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 8.6 runs over those games. As for Mercedes, their record is now 15-6.
Lopez might still be hurting after the 13-1 loss they got from Mercedes when the teams last played back in March. Can the Lobos avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
