The Notre Dame Titans will head out to take on the Arroyo Valley Hawks at 3:45 p.m. on Monday. Notre Dame is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.5 runs per game this season.
Notre Dame was handed a nine-run defeat in their previous outing, but that didn't affect their clutch gene on Friday. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 6-5 victory over Fontana. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Titans have posted against the Steelers since April 7, 2023.
Mikey Rodriguez made a big impact no matter where she played. On the mound, she struck out six batters over seven innings while giving up five earned runs off six hits. Rodriguez was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one run and one double.
In other batting news, Sydney Cramer and Katie Correa did most of the damage at the plate: Cramer got on base in three of her four plate appearances with two runs, while Correa went 2-for-3 with three RBI. Those three RBI gave Correa a new career-high. Eliana Lomeli was another key player, going 3-for-4 with two runs.
Arroyo Valley came out on top against Rim of the World on Friday thanks in part to the team's impressive five-run fifth inning. The Hawks' pitcher stepped up to hand the Fighting Scots a 10-0 shutout. Considering the Hawks have won five games by more than eight runs this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.
Like Notre Dame, Arroyo Valley also got a great game from a two-way player: Mariana Barlow. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run over five innings pitched. Barlow has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one walk in six consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBI and one double.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Francine Cruz, who went 2-for-3 with four RBI, one triple, and one run. Natalia Arceo also deserves some recognition as she hit her first triple of the season.
Arroyo Valley always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .607. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their OBP total in three consecutive contests.
Arroyo Valley's victory ended a three-game drought at home and bumped them up to 6-8-2. As for Notre Dame, their record is now 8-9-1.
Monday's match will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Notre Dame hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .338. However, it's not like Arroyo Valley struggles in that department as they've averaged .380. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Notre Dame suffered a grim 11-2 defeat to Arroyo Valley in their previous meeting on Wednesday. Can the Titans avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
