The Moreno Valley Vikings will square off against the Rancho Verde Mustangs at 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Moreno Valley took a loss when they played away from home back in March, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Thursday. They blew past Perris 29-2. The Vikings' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
Julia Harris made a splash no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, tossing four innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off four hits. Harris was also stellar in the batter's box, going 3-for-4 with three stolen bases, two runs, and one triple. Those three stolen bases gave her a new career-high.
Mia Licon
| 04/03/25 vs Perris | 5 |
| 02/15/24 vs La Sierra | 3 |
| 03/15/24 @ Rancho Verde | 2 |
| 03/12/24 vs Yucca Valley | 2 |
| 03/04/24 vs Mesa Grande Academy | 2 |
In other batting news, Moreno Valley got a massive performance out of Mia Licon, who scored five runs and stole five bases while getting on base in all five of her plate appearances. Those five stolen bases gave Licon a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Marissa Martinez, who scored four runs and stole four bases while getting on base in all five of her plate appearances.
Moreno Valley always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .822. They are a perfect 3-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Meanwhile, while Rancho Verde put up some runs on Thursday, the same can't be said for Rancho Christian. The Mustangs put the hurt on the Eagles with a sharp 10-0 win. The Mustangs haven't had any issues with the Eagles recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive victory against them.
Isabelle Sena made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out 14 over six innings pitched. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, scoring two runs and stealing a base while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Jaylen Anderson, who scored a run while going 2-for-3.
Rancho Verde's win was their seventh straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 8-3. Those home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.9 runs on average over those games. As for Moreno Valley, their win bumped their record up to 4-6.
Tuesday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Moreno Valley hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .375. However, it's not like Rancho Verde struggles in that department as they've averaged .384. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Moreno Valley might still be hurting after the 10-0 loss they got from Rancho Verde in their previous matchup back in April of 2024. Will the Vikings have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
