vs
| 05/02/24 - Away | 14-2 W |
| 04/05/24 - Home | 7-6 W |
| 05/09/23 - Home | 6-4 W |
| 04/06/23 - Away | 7-4 W |
| 04/25/22 - Home | 11-3 W |
| + 5 more games |
Hollister is 8-2 against Salinas since March of 2018 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Friday. The Haybalers will head out to face off against the Cowboys at 5:00 p.m. Hollister's pitching crew has only allowed four runs per game this season, so Salinas' hitters will have their work cut out for them.
The home team had won the previous three meetings between Hollister and Monterey, and Monterey kept the tradition alive. The Haybalers fell just short of the Dores by a score of 4-3 on Wednesday.
Eliana Hatchett was a force to be reckoned with on the mound despite the final result: she tossed six innings while giving up just one earned (and three unearned) runs off five hits.
At the plate, Aleah Ruiz and Ashlee Io stepped up to the plate in a big way. Ruiz went 1-for-3 with one home run, while Io scored a run and stole a base while going 1-for-2.
Meanwhile, Salinas waltzed into their game on Monday with three straight wins... but they left with four. They came out on top in a nail-biter against the Chieftains, sneaking past 2-0. The Cowboys' pitching crew has been rock solid lately; the team hasn't given up a run in their last three contests.
Abi Jones made a splash no matter where she played. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out 17 over seven innings pitched. That's the most strikeouts she has posted since back in May of 2024. She was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with one home run.
Jones wasn't the only one making solid contact as two players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Sam Merillana, who went 1-for-3 with one RBI.
Salinas pushed their record up to 8-3 with the victory, which was their third straight on the road. Those road wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 0.3 runs on average over those games. As for Hollister, they have been struggling recently as they've lost four of their last five matchups. That's put a noticeable dent in their 9-6 record this season.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Friday as neither team is afraid to steal. Hollister has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.1 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Salinas struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 3.3 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Hollister took their victory against Salinas in their previous meeting back in May of 2024 by a conclusive 14-2 score. Do the Haybalers have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Cowboys turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
