The Mt. Eden Monarchs will head out on the road to face off against the Arroyo Dons at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, the two teams will really light up the scoreboard.
Mt. Eden was handed a heart-breaking two-run defeat in their last match, but they sure didn't let that happen against Piedmont on Tuesday. Mt. Eden blew past Piedmont 12-1. The result was nothing new for the Monarchs, who have now won five games by ten runs or more so far this season.
Mt. Eden let Jasmine Cruz and Shelby Newcomb run wild. Cruz scored three runs and stole a base while going 3-for-4, while Newcomb went 2-for-3 with one triple, two RBI, and one run. That triple marked the first that Newcomb hit this season. Another player making a difference was Milania Hernandez, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 2-for-2.
Mt. Eden always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .667. They are a perfect 4-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Meanwhile, Arroyo got themselves on the board against Piedmont on Wednesday, but Piedmont never followed suit. They put the hurt on the Highlanders with a sharp 14-0 win. The victory continues a trend for the Dons in their matchups with the Highlanders: they've now won six in a row.
Ariana Rocha made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run while striking out 13 over five innings pitched. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up a single walk in four consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs while going 2-for-4.
In other batting news, Arroyo got a massive performance out of Aneesa Aguon, who scored four runs and stole two bases while going 3-for-4. Those four runs gave Aguon a new career-high. Nayeli Rodriguez was another key player, going 2-for-3 with four RBI, one triple, and one stolen base.
Mt. Eden has been performing well recently as they've won three of their last four contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 5-3 record this season. Those wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.0 runs on average over those games. Arroyo's record now sits at 2-3.
Wednesday's match might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Mt. Eden has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .520. However, it's not like Arroyo struggles in that department as they've averaged .465. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Mt. Eden suffered a grim 9-0 defeat to Arroyo in their previous meeting back in April of 2024. Can Mt. Eden avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
