The Maricopa Rams will face off against the Pueblo Warriors at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. Maricopa is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.5 runs per game this season.
Maricopa came into this matchup off a tough seven-run loss on Saturday. This time they kept things ultra-competitive, but unfortunately the final result was the same. They fell just short of Flowing Wells by a score of 8-6 on Wednesday. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest defeat the Rams have suffered since March 16, 2024.
Alanee Calderon made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went 2-for-3 with one triple, one stolen base, and two RBI. Ariana Calderon was another key player, scoring a run while going 3-for-4.
Meanwhile, Pueblo made easy work of Sahuaro on Monday and carried off a 20-2 victory. The win continues a trend for the Warriors in their matchups with the Cougars: they've now won eight in a row.
Alyssa Pallanes made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run over five innings pitched. The dominant performance also gave her a new career-low in walks (zero). She was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs while going 2-for-3.
In other batting news, Renata Nu?ez was a standout: she went a perfect 4-for-4 with one home run, four runs, and two triples. What's more, she posted four RBI, the most she's had since back in February of 2024. Another player making a difference was Anesa Castillo, who went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, three runs, and three RBI.
Pueblo hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now struck out at most four strikeouts in three consecutive matchups.
This is the second loss in a row for Maricopa and nudges their season record down to 6-6-1. As for Pueblo, their victory bumped their record up to 4-5.
Thursday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Maricopa hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .350. However, it's not like Pueblo struggles in that department as they've averaged .503. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
