The Clemens Buffaloes are taking a road trip to face off against the East Central Hornets at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Clemens is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.2 runs per game this season.
Clemens will roll into the game after a wild two-game stretch: they didn't score any runs on Tuesday, then bounced right back against Johnson on Friday. The Buffaloes put the hurt on the Jaguars with a sharp 17-8 victory. The result was nothing new for the Buffaloes, who have now won 12 contests by six runs or more so far this season.
Sophia Valencia made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run over 4.1 innings pitched. Valencia was also big at the plate, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 2-for-5.
In other batting news, Erika Padron was a standout: she went 3-for-5 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. Celestina Daniels was another key player, scoring two runs while going 3-for-4.
Clemens kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 18 hits. That's the most hits they've posted since back in April of 2024.
Meanwhile, East Central waltzed into their match on Friday with two straight wins... but they left with three. They walked away with a 3-0 win over the Cougars.
Not much got past Jenise Ramirez, who gave up just six hits to keep Canyon off the board. Ramirez has been consistent : she hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Rehana Cuellar was excellent, scoring two runs while going 1-for-3.
East Central's victory was their seventh straight at home, which pushed their record up to 14-8. The home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.0 runs over those games. As for Clemens, their record now sits at 17-7.
Friday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Clemens has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .460. However, it's not like East Central struggles in that department as they've averaged .453. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Clemens suffered a grim 9-3 defeat to East Central when the teams last played back in March. Can the Buffaloes avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
