The Slaton Tigers will challenge the Littlefield Wildcats at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. Slaton is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 9.3 runs per game this season.
While Slaton's win against Roosevelt wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Tigers sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 6-5 victory over the Eagles on Tuesday. The Tigers haven't had any issues with the Eagles recently, as the game was their fifth consecutive win against them.
Isabella Guzman made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she tossed seven innings while giving up three earned (and two unearned) runs off 11 hits. Guzman was even better at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one home run and two RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Kamryn Barrera, who scored two runs and stole two bases while going 3-for-4. That's the most hits she has posted since back in March. Jessleigh Lamberson was another key player, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 1-for-4.
Slaton kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. They are 10-1 when they post 11 or more hits.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Littlefield, who bounced back after a loss on the road last Tuesday. They blew past Roosevelt 18-3 on Saturday. The result was nothing new for the Wildcats, who have now won 13 games by eight runs or more so far this season.
Bryndle Ray was incredible, going a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs, four RBI, and two doubles. Another player making a difference was Hannah Lopez, who scored three runs and stole a base while going 2-for-2.
Littlefield pushed their record up to 18-7 with the victory, which was their fourth straight at home. The home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 16.3 runs over those games. As for Slaton, their victory bumped their record up to 16-10.
Fans could be in store for some top-tier slugging on Thursday. Slaton hasn't had any problems when it comes to power this season, having averaged 0.8 home runs per game. However, it's not like Littlefield struggles in that department as they've been averaging 1.1 home runs. With so much power on both teams, it'll be down to the pitchers to keep the mound locked down.
Slaton couldn't quite get it done against Littlefield in their previous matchup back in March as they fell 13-9. Will the Tigers have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
