The Natalia Mustangs will head out on the road to square off against the Lytle Pirates at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
For whatever reason, it's the away team that's had the advantage when Natalia and Hondo meet (five straight games heading into this one) and that held true again on Tuesday. The Mustangs were the clear victors by a 10-3 margin over the Owls. The win was a breath of fresh air for the Mustangs as it put an end to their five-game losing streak.
Alani Aguinaga spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three runs (all of which were unearned) on three hits.
On the hitting side, Ralynn Juarez was excellent, going 1-for-4 with three RBI and two runs. The team also got some help courtesy of Leyla Saenz, who went 2-for-4 with one run and one double.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Lytle, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Friday. They skirted past Crystal City 10-9.
The team relied heavily on Marley Macias, who went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, three RBI, and two runs. That's the most hits she has posted since back in February. Anissa Perez also deserves some recognition as she snagged her first stolen base of the season.
The victory got Lytle back to even at 10-10-2. As for Natalia, their win was their first in the district, bumping their district record up to 1-5 and their overall record up to 10-14.
Thursday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Natalia has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .434. However, it's not like Lytle struggles in that department as they've averaged .447. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Natalia couldn't quite get it done against Lytle in their previous matchup back in March as they fell 9-6. Can the Mustangs avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
