Del Mar and Gunderson are an even 5-5 against one another since April of 2015, but likely not for long. The Del Mar Dons will be playing at home against the Gunderson Grizzlies at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Del Mar knows how to get runs on the board -- the squad has finished with flashy run totals in its past 15 matchups -- so hopefully Gunderson likes a good challenge.
In what's become a running theme this season, Del Mar gave their fans yet another huge win on Thursday. They were the clear victor by a 19-5 margin over James Lick.
Sienna Denson made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, keeping things locked down with no earned runs or hits while striking out 12 over five innings pitched. Denson has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two hits in three consecutive pitching appearances. Denson was also stellar in the batter's box, going 3-for-5 with five RBI, three runs, and a triple.
In other batting news, Julianne Garcia was a standout: she scored three runs and stole two bases while going 4-for-5. Another player making a difference was Niarah Aimonetti, who scored four runs while going 3-for-5.
Meanwhile, Gunderson entered their tilt with Overfelt with six consecutive wins but they'll enter their next game with seven. They had just enough and edged the Royals out 11-9.
Like Del Mar, Gunderson also got a great game from a two-way player: Alanna Martinez Poklong. On the mound, she struck out 16 batters over seven innings while giving up four earned (and five unearned) runs off seven hits. Martinez Poklong was also big at the plate, scoring two runs while going 3-for-4.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Sabrina Gonzales, who scored a run while going 3-for-4. Breanna Bartek was another key contributor, scoring three runs and stealing two bases while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.
Del Mar pushed their record up to 14-1 with that victory, which was their seventh straight on the road. As for Gunderson, their win bumped their record up to 12-3.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Friday as neither team is afraid to steal. Del Mar has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 5.8 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Gunderson struggles in that department as they've been averaging 6.5. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Del Mar took their victory against Gunderson in their previous meeting back in April by a conclusive 11-4. One of the biggest obstacles the team faced in that game was Martinez Poklong, who struck out eight batters over seven innings while giving up five earned (and six unearned) runs off four hits. Now that she's got a second chance to win this matchup, will Del Mar still be able to contain Martinez Poklong? There's only one way to find out.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
