Nelson will square off against the Aloha Warriors at 5:00 p.m. on Monday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Nelson will roll into the game after a wild two-game stretch: they didn't score any runs on Wednesday, then bounced right back against Lebanon on Thursday. Nelson was the clear victor by a 17-5 margin over Lebanon. The high-scoring performance was a welcome turnaround for Nelson's hitters, who had struggled in the games prior.
Rylee Erickson was a standout: she went 2-for-4 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. That home run was her first of the season. The team also got some help courtesy of Alyvia Pietsch, who got on base in all five of her plate appearances with three runs, one stolen base, and two RBI.
Nelson was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .385. They are a perfect 6-0 when they post a batting average of .375 or better.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Aloha, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Wednesday. They blew past Hillsboro 9-3 on Friday.
Ava Cruz made a splash while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, tossing seven innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off seven hits. The dominant performance also gave her a new career-high in strikeouts (five). She was also solid in the batter's box, going 3-for-4 with two runs and one double.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Nellie Foust, who went 3-for-4 with two RBI and one double. Another player making a difference was Sophia File, who went 2-for-4 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI.
Nelson's victory bumped their record up to 7-3. As for Aloha, their win ended a four-game drought at home and bumped them up to 4-5.
Nelson's speedy runners might be the difference in Monday's matchup. Nelson has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.9 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Aloha, though, as they've been averaging only 0.9 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Nelson continue to outrun the ball?
Nelson got the 'W' when the teams last played back in April of 2025 against Aloha by a conclusive 15-5 score. Will Nelson repeat their success, or does Aloha has a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
