For the second straight game, Rubidoux will face off against Jurupa Valley. The Falcons will head out on the road to square off against the Jaguars at 3:15 p.m. on Thursday. Rubidoux has given up an average of 11.4 runs per game this season, but Thursday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Rubidoux is coming in off a wild two-game stretch: after soaring to 18 runs on Monday, they were much more limited against Jurupa Valley on Tuesday. They came up short against the Jaguars, falling 12-1. The loss continues a trend for the Falcons in their meetings with the Jaguars: they've now lost four in a row.
For Jurupa Valley's part, Samantha Amancio made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She struck out six batters over five innings while giving up just one earned run off eight hits. Amancio has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than one earned run in five consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs and stealing two bases while going 1-for-3.
In other batting news, Saytha Sanchez and Emma Enciso-Rios did most of the damage at the plate: Sanchez went a perfect 4-for-4 with four runs, two triples, and two RBI, while Enciso-Rios went 3-for-4 with three RBI, two runs, and one triple. Those four runs gave Sanchez a new career-high. Sophia Padilla was another key player, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 2-for-2.
Jurupa Valley kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 16 hits. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Rubidoux only managed eight hits.
Jurupa Valley has been performing well recently as they've won three of their last four matches. That's provided a massive bump to their 7-6 record this season. Those wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.3 runs on average over those games. As for Rubidoux, their defeat dropped their record down to 6-8.
Thursday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Rubidoux hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .421. However, it's not like Jurupa Valley struggles in that department as they've averaged .369. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
