Northgate is 2-8 against Benicia since March of 2017 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Thursday. The Broncos will host the Panthers at 4:30 p.m. Northgate is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.8 runs per game this season.
Benicia will face off against a team with plenty of momentum: Northgate extended their winning streak to three on Tuesday. The Broncos blew past Clayton Valley Charter 9-2. The result was nothing new for the Broncos, who have now won eight matchups by seven runs or more so far this season.
Ashley Herman spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned (and one unearned) run on four hits and racked up 11 Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances.
Addison Baxter
| 05/13/25 @ Clayton Valley Charter | 2 |
| 04/24/25 vs Clayton Valley Charter | 1 |
| 04/15/25 vs Alhambra | 1 |
| 03/06/25 vs Pittsburg | 1 |
| 03/03/25 vs Antioch | 1 |
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Addison Baxter, who went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI, and one run. Those two doubles gave her a new career-high. Sophie Hanko was another key player, going 1-for-4 with two runs, one double, and one RBI.
Meanwhile, Benicia started off well but failed to capitalize on an early lead against College Park. They fell just short of the Falcons by a score of 4-3 on Tuesday.
Benicia also let their pitcher toss all seven innings and she was also dialed-in: Alana Robinson gave up just two earned (and two unearned) runs on eight hits.
On the hitting side, Ava Rojas was cooking despite her team's loss, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one run, one double, and one RBI. Another player making a difference was Leilani Andrews, who went 1-for-3 with one home run.
Benicia's defeat dropped their record down to 13-10. As for Northgate, the victory got them back to even at 10-10.
Northgate's speedy runners might be the difference in Thursday's game. The Broncos have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Benicia, though, as they've been averaging an even more impressive 1.2 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Northgate continue to outrun the ball?
Northgate beat Benicia 8-4 in their previous matchup two weeks ago. Do the Broncos have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Panthers turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
