Eastwood hasn't had much luck against Hanks recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Eastwood Troopers will challenge the Hanks Knights at 6:30 p.m. Eastwood will be looking to extend their current ten-game winning streak.
Eastwood barely beat Del Valle the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. Eastwood put the hurt on Del Valle with a sharp 7-1 win on Tuesday. The Troopers might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won ten games by six runs or more this season.
Ariana Hernandez spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on four hits and racked up 11 Ks. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than two walks in nine consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Amanda Rodriguez, who went 3-for-4 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. That's the most RBI she has posted over her last 16 contests. Deja Churchill also deserves some recognition as she hit her first triple of the season.
Eastwood was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .379. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Del Valle only posted a batting average of .160.
Meanwhile, after a string of three wins, Hanks' good fortune finally ran out on Tuesday. They lost 20-6 to Montwood. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest defeat the Knights have suffered against the Rams since February 23, 2016.
Madison Young made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and scored a run while going 1-for-3. The team also got some help courtesy of Audrey Melendez, who went 2-for-3 with one double and one RBI.
Eastwood's victory bumped their record up to 19-1-1. As for Hanks, the loss was their first on the road , dropping their record down to 11-5-1.
Friday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Eastwood hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .415. However, it's not like Hanks struggles in that department as they've averaged .404. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
