O'Connor has gone 8-2 against Taft recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Friday. The Panthers will challenge the Raiders at 5:00 p.m. The teams are on pretty different trajectories at the moment (O'Connor has 15 straight wins, Taft has three straight losses), but none of that matters once you're on the field.
Taft's hitters are going to have their work cut out for them on Friday: O'Connor hadn't allowed a single run the last three times they've hit the field. The Panthers blew past Stevens 12-0 on Wednesday. Considering the Panthers have won 17 matchups by more than five runs this season, Wednesday's blowout was nothing new.
Zoe De Luna
| 04/15/26 vs Stevens | 2 |
| 04/07/26 vs Marshall | 0 |
| 04/02/26 @ Alamo Heights | 1 |
| 03/20/26 @ Warren | 1 |
| 03/09/26 vs Holmes | 1 |
| + 2 more games |
Zoe De Luna looked comfortable as she tossed three innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two walks in seven consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Charlotte Briscoe was a standout: she went a perfect 2-for-2 with two triples, three runs, and one RBI. That's the most runs she has posted since back in February. Another player making a difference was Ella De Luna, who went 3-for-4 with two runs, one triple, and one stolen base.
O'Connor hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. The team has now struck out at least five batters in 36 consecutive contests dating back to last season.
Meanwhile, Taft didn't have quite enough to beat Brennan on Wednesday and fell 4-3.
Taft saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Sophia Quiroz, who went 1-for-3 with two RBI and one double. Jacelyn Parks was another, going 1-for-3 with two runs and one double.
Taft's defeat dropped their record down to 18-9. As for O'Connor, their record is now 23-4.
Taft's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: O'Connor has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .492. It's a different story for Taft, though, as they've only averaged .345. Will they be able to contain O'Connor's hitters?
O'Connor got the 'W' when the teams last played back in March against Taft by a conclusive 10-0 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Panthers since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
