Malad is 8-1-1 against Declo since April of 2019 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Saturday. The Dragons are taking a road trip to face off against the Hornets at 11:00 a.m. Malad is coming into the game hot, having won their last nine games.
Malad's pitching crew heads into the contest hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Friday. They were the clear victors by a 16-0 margin over Wendell. The Dragons might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won 15 matchups by seven runs or more this season.
Liddia Gonzalez
| 04/25/25 @ Wendell | 16 |
| 04/02/25 vs Declo | 14 |
| 04/12/25 vs Grangeville | 13 |
| 04/18/25 vs Marsing | 12 |
| 03/12/25 vs Snake River | 11 |
Liddia Gonzalez was a major factor no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only two hits while striking out 16 over six innings pitched. Those 16 strikeouts gave her a new career-high. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-4 with one run, one double, and one RBI.
In other batting news, Bostyn Combs was a standout: she went 3-for-4 with three RBI, two runs, and one stolen base. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in March. Teagan Daniels was another key player, going 2-for-4 with three RBI, two runs, and one stolen base.
Malad always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .528. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Wendell only posted an OBP of .143.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Declo, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Monday. They came out on top in a nail-biter against Wendell on Wednesday, sneaking past 10-8. The high-flying hitting performance was a huge turnaround for the Hornets considering their two-run performance the game before.
Like Malad, Declo also got a great game from a two-way player: Makendrie Harris. On the mound, she struck out 14 batters over seven innings while giving up four earned (and four unearned) runs off three hits. Harris has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in ten consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with one home run, three runs, and four RBI. That home run was her first of the season.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Kymbree Koyle, who went 2-for-3 with three RBI, one run, and one double.
Malad's win was their 14th straight on the road dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 18-2. Those road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 14.8 runs over those games. As for Declo, they have been performing well recently as they've won three of their last four contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 8-9 record this season.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Saturday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Malad has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 9.4 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Declo struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 8.8 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Everything went Malad's way against Declo in their previous matchup on April 2nd, as Malad made off with a 10-3 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Dragons since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
