The Vasquez Mustangs are taking a road trip to face off against the University Prep Jaguars at 3:15 p.m. on Friday.
Vasquez is headed into the match having just suffered their closest loss since February 17, 2024 on Monday. They fell just short of Eastside by a score of 4-2. The loss was the Mustangs' first of the season.
Vasquez saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Ben Diaz, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with one RBI.
Even though they lost, Vasquez hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now struck out at most five strikeouts every time they've taken the field this season.
Meanwhile, University Prep is still undefeated this season after their game against Academy for Academic Excellence on Thursday, but Academy for Academic Excellence came as close as anyone has to beating them. University Prep sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 6-4 win over Academy for Academic Excellence. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Jaguars have posted since March 6, 2024.
Angel Herrera made a big impact no matter where he played. On the mound, he pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. Herrera was also big at the plate, scoring two runs while going 1-for-3.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Ricky Gonzalez, who scored a run and stole a base while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances. Jorge Escalante also deserves some recognition as he hit his first double of the season.
Having lost for the first time this season, Vasquez fell to 2-1. As for University Prep, their record now sits at 4-0.
Friday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Vasquez hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .346. However, it's not like University Prep struggles in that department as they've averaged .468. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Vasquez came up short against University Prep in their previous meeting back in February of 2023, falling 8-5. Can Vasquez avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
