Saugus is 8-2 against Hart since April of 2021 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Thursday. The Centurions will venture away from home to face off against the Hawks at 3:15 p.m. Saugus will be looking to extend their current ten-game winning streak.
Saugus came out on top against West Ranch on Tuesday thanks in part to the team's impressive four-run first inning. The Centurions walked away with a 6-1 victory over the Wildcats.
Taliya Mata tossed a big game, not allowing a single earned run over six innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than one walk in five consecutive appearances.
Savanna Smith
| 04/22/25 @ West Ranch | 3 |
| 03/20/25 vs West Ranch | 2 |
| 02/17/24 vs Oxnard | 2 |
| 03/27/25 vs Golden Valley | 1 |
| 03/25/25 vs Hart | 1 |
At the plate, Savanna Smith was incredible, going a perfect 3-for-3 with three stolen bases and two runs. Those three stolen bases gave her a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Jordan Shepherd, who went 1-for-4 with one home run and two runs.
Meanwhile, Hart was able to grind out a solid win over Golden Valley on Tuesday, taking the game 8-4. The victory continues a trend for the Hawks in their matchups with the Grizzlies: they've now won three in a row.
Jessica Gutierrez and Sadie Curtis did most of the damage at the plate: Gutierrez went 2-for-4 with one home run and four RBI, while Curtis went a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs and one double. The team also got some help courtesy of Natalie Williams, who went 2-for-4 with one run, one double, and one RBI.
Hart kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 16 hits. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their hit total in three consecutive contests.
Saugus' win was their fifth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 20-4. The road victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.4 runs on average over those games. As for Hart, their record now sits at 7-13.
Thursday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Saugus hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .349. However, it's not like Hart struggles in that department as they've averaged .337. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Everything went Saugus' way against Hart in their previous meeting back in March, as Saugus made off with a 14-8 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Centurions since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
