Richland has won ten straight games at home, while Chiawana has won ten straight on the road, but those streaks won't matter much on Tuesday. The Bombers will welcome the Riverhawks at 5:00 p.m. The two teams each escaped (but just barely!) with wins against their previous opponents.
Richland is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Friday. They narrowly escaped with a victory as the squad sidled past Kamiakin 3-2. The win continues a trend for the Bombers in their matchups with the Braves: they've now won nine in a row.
Emmalee Mohr made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she pitched 4.2 innings while giving up just one earned run off three hits. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than one earned run in 11 consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with three RBI.
In other batting news, Payton Chacon and Brooklynn Boyce did most of the damage at the plate: Chacon went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, while Boyce got on base in three of her four plate appearances with two runs. That's the most stolen bases Chacon has posted since back in April.
Meanwhile, Chiawana faced Hanford in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Friday. The Riverhawks skirted past the Falcons 5-3. The home team had taken home the W every time these teams have met since March 29, 2024, but that streak is no more.
Gabriella Garza spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three runs (all of which were unearned) on five hits and racked up six Ks.
At the plate, Alyssa Melendez was incredible, going 3-for-4 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. That home run marked the first that she has launched this season. Another player making a difference was Jessica Melendez, who went 2-for-4 with two runs and one stolen base.
Chiawana's victory bumped their record up to 15-6. As for Richland, their win bumped their record up to 22-1.
Tuesday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Richland has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .483. However, it's not like Chiawana struggles in that department as they've averaged .489. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Everything went Richland's way against Chiawana in their previous meeting last Friday, as Richland made off with a 9-0 victory. Do the Bombers have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Riverhawks turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
