Durango is 0-10 against Fruita Monument since August of 2019 but things could change on Saturday. The Durango Demons will play host again on Saturday to welcome the Fruita Monument Wildcats, where first pitch is scheduled at 10:00 a.m. Both are sauntering into the matchup backed by comfortable wins in their prior games.
Durango will bounce into Saturday's game after beating Rifle, who they hadn't topped in nine consecutive meetings. Durango blew past Rifle 11-3 on Friday. The win was some much needed relief for the Demons as it spelled an end to their three-game losing streak.
Abigail Gordon spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned (and one unearned) runs on ten hits and racked up six Ks.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Molly Best, who fired off two home runs, four runs, and four RBI while going 4-for-4. What's more, she also racked up four hits, the mostshe's had since back in August. Another player making a difference was Kaitlyn Downey, who scored three runs while going 2-for-3.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given the score, Durango lost a few balls and finished the game with two home runs. That's the most home runs they've managed all season.
Meanwhile, Fruita Monument had already won eight in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 7.9 runs) and they went ahead and made it nine on Wednesday. They put the hurt on the Bulldogs with a sharp 12-2 victory. The Wildcats might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won nine matchups by six runs or more this season.
Lacie Rodabaugh made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She struck out ten batters over six innings while giving up just two earned runs off three hits (and only one walk). She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 1-for-3.
In other batting news, Carmella Fortunato was a standout: she scored two runs and stole two bases while going 3-for-4. Olivia Wirth was another key player, going 2-for-4 with a triple, a run, and a double.
Durango's win bumped their record up to 8-9. As for Fruita Monument, they pushed their record up to 14-5 with the victory, which was their eighth straight at home.
Saturday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Durango has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of 0. However, it's not like Fruita Monument struggles in that department as they've averaged 0. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Durango suffered a grim 17-0 defeat to Fruita Monument when the teams last played back in October of 2023. Will Durango have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
