Santa Clara hasn't had much luck against Palo Alto recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Bruins will square off against the Vikings at 4:00 p.m. Santa Clara is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 9.9 runs per game this season.
While Santa Clara's win against Fremont wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Bruins had just enough and edged out the Firebirds 11-9. The high-flying hitting performance was a huge turnaround for the Bruins considering their two-run performance the game before.
The team relied heavily on Jasmine (Jazzy) Ramirez, who went 2-for-4 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. Another player making a difference was Averie Lopez, who went 2-for-3 with three stolen bases, two runs, and one double.
Meanwhile, Palo Alto got the win against Lynbrook on Wednesday by a conclusive 19-3. The victory continues a trend for Palo Alto in their matchups with Lynbrook: they've now won eight in a row.
Kira Tzeng made a big impact no matter where she played. On the mound, she pitched five innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off six hits. Tzeng was also stellar in the batter's box, going 3-for-4 with two triples, two stolen bases, and three runs. That's the most runs she has posted since back in March.
In other batting news, Kendall Butler was incredible, getting on base in all five of her plate appearances with one home run, two stolen bases, and three runs. That home run marked the first that she has launched this season. The team also got some help courtesy of Riannah Soliman, who got on base in four of her five plate appearances with three stolen bases, four runs, and one RBI.
Palo Alto always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .644. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Lynbrook only posted an OBP of .375.
The win got Santa Clara back to even at 11-11. As for Palo Alto, their record is now 11-8.
Friday's match might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Santa Clara has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .441. However, it's not like Palo Alto struggles in that department as they've averaged .464. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
