The Benson Bobcats will face off against the Round Valley Elks at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Benson has given up an average of 8.8 runs per game this season, but Wednesday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Benson couldn't beat Morenci on Tuesday even though they stacked four runs on them in the fourth inning. The Bobcats lost 21-8 to the Wildcats. The loss continues a trend for the Bobcats in their meetings with the Wildcats: they've now lost three in a row.
Karris Taylor and Natalia Guzman stepped up to the plate in a big way. Taylor went 2-for-3 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI, while Guzman went 2-for-3 with one home run and three RBI. Another player making a difference was Akota Abbott, who went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI.
Meanwhile, Round Valley had already won four in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 15.8 runs) and they went ahead and made it five on Friday. They came within a single run of losing the streak, but they secured a 12-11 W against the Sand Devils. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Elks have posted since March 8th.
Carla Arreola was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, tossing seven innings while giving up just one earned (and ten unearned) runs off 11 hits. She has been consistent: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in seven consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 1-for-4 with one run, one double, and one RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Kelci Walker, who got on base in all five of her plate appearances with one home run, four runs, and four RBI. With that strong performance, she is now averaging an impressive 2 runs per game. Ruth Wiltbank was another key player, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and one run.
Round Valley kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. They are a perfect 9-0 when they post 11 or more hits.
Round Valley's win was their sixth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 14-6. Those home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 13.3 runs over those games. As for Benson, they now have a losing record of 12-13.
Wednesday's match will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Benson hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .368. However, it's not like Round Valley struggles in that department as they've averaged .406. 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.
