The El Dorado Aztecs will head out to face off against the Hanks Knights at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. El Dorado will be strutting in after a win while Hanks will be coming in after a loss.
El Dorado proved they can win big on Friday (they won by 22) and on Saturday they proved they can win the close ones too. They had just enough and edged out Parkland 4-2. The victory was familiar territory for the Aztecs, who have now won three contests in a row.
Sophia Lujan looked comfortable as she tossed 2.1 innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Isabella Rodriguez and Vanessa Triana did most of the damage at the plate: Rodriguez scored a run while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances, while Triana scored a run and stole a base while going 2-for-2.
Meanwhile, Hanks didn't have quite enough to beat Del Valle on Saturday and fell 8-7. The Knights have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Madison Young led a balanced group of hitters, going 2-for-3 with one home run, two runs, and one double. Emily Cordova was another key player, going 1-for-3 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI.
El Dorado's win was their fourth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 19-8. Those home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 12.3 runs over those games. As for Hanks, their defeat dropped their record down to 15-12-1.
Tuesday's match might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. El Dorado has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .529. However, it's not like Hanks struggles in that department as they've averaged .479. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
El Dorado took their win against Hanks in their previous meeting two weeks ago by a conclusive 16-8 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Aztecs since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
