Del Mar is 1-7 against Lincoln since February of 2015 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Wednesday. The Dons will be playing in front of their home fans against the Lions at 4:00 p.m. Del Mar has given up an average of 9.9 runs per game this season, but Wednesday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Last Friday, Del Mar beat Silver Creek 15-11. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Dons.
Natalie Dixon made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out 13 batters over seven innings while giving up ten earned (and one unearned) runs off eight hits (and not a single walk). She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one walk in three consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBI.
In other batting news, Niarah Aimonetti was a standout: she got on base in four of her five plate appearances with two runs, two RBI, and one double. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in February. Another player making a difference was Julienn (Jess) Ruiz-Correa, who went 2-for-6 with two runs, one stolen base, and one double.
Del Mar kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. That's the most hits they've managed all season.
Meanwhile, Lincoln fought the good fight in their extra-innings match against Live Oak on Monday but wound up with a less-than-desirable result. They fell just short of the Acorns by a score of 8-6. The defeat continues a trend for the Lions in their meetings with the Acorns: they've now lost five in a row.
Lincoln saw eight different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Olivia Diaz, who went 2-for-5 with two runs, one double, and one RBI. Keona Perez also deserves some recognition as she hit her first triple of the season.
Lincoln's loss dropped their record down to 10-7. As for Del Mar, their victory bumped their record up to 3-9.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Wednesday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Del Mar has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.1 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Lincoln struggles in that department as they've been averaging 7.9 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Del Mar came up short against Lincoln when the teams last played back in March, falling 10-6. Will the Dons have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
