Eastside is 0-10 against Lancaster since April of 2019 but things could change on Thursday. The Eastside Lions will head out on the road to challenge the Lancaster Eagles at 3:15 p.m. The last three games Eastside has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.
On Tuesday, Eastside didn't have quite enough to beat Highland and fell 10-9. That's two games in a row now that the Lions have lost by just one run.
Bethanie Jimenez was cooking despite her team's loss, going 2-for-3 with one home run and three RBI. Julia Green also deserves some recognition as she hit her first double of the season.
Jimenez wasn't the only one working in the hit department: Eastside kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 14 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least nine hits in seven consecutive matches.
Meanwhile, Lancaster got the win against Littlerock on Tuesday by a conclusive 13-3. Considering the Eagles have won three contests by more than nine runs this season, Tuesday's blowout was nothing new.
Sam Salas made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out seven batters over six innings while giving up three earned runs off ten hits (and not a single walk). That's the most strikeouts she has posted since back in April of 2024. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going 3-for-4 with one home run, four RBI, and two runs.
In other batting news, Jordyn Zinn was incredible, going 2-for-4 with four RBI, two runs, and one double. Layla Acosta was another key player, scoring a run while going 3-for-3.
The win made it two in a row for Lancaster and bumps their season record up to 5-2. They've dominated over that stretch too, winning by an average of 17.5 runs. As for Eastside, their loss was their first in the league, dropping their league record down to 2-1 and their overall record down to 5-2-1.
Thursday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Eastside has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .540. However, it's not like Lancaster struggles in that department as they've averaged .500. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Eastside suffered a grim 13-3 defeat to Lancaster when the teams last played back in March of 2024. Can Eastside avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
