Franklin hasn't had much luck against Pebble Hills recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. The Cougars will take on the Spartans at 6:30 p.m. Franklin is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.2 runs per game this season.
Franklin is headed into Thursday's match looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their fourth straight game on Saturday. They took a 10-6 hit to the loss column at the hands of Eastlake.
Ayana Jaramillo was a force to be reckoned with on the mound despite the final result: she didn't allow a single earned run over 4.1 innings pitched. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Sophia Lucero was cooking despite her team's loss, going 1-for-2 with one home run and two RBI.
Meanwhile, Pebble Hills can bid farewell to their three-game losing streak thanks to their game on Tuesday. They walked away with a 10-5 win over Eastlake. The game was the first time the Spartans have beaten the Falcons on their field since March 11, 2022.
Desiree Beard spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned (and three unearned) runs on five hits and racked up ten Ks.
At the plate, Syan Saldana was a standout: she went 3-for-4 with four RBI, one run, and one double. That's the most hits she has posted since back in February. Madison Dela Cruz was another key player, going 2-for-5 with one home run and two runs.
Pebble Hills kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 19 hits. They are 6-3 when they post 11 or more hits.
Pebble Hills' record is now 13-20. As for Franklin, their loss dropped their record down to 8-20-1.
Fans could be in store for some top-tier slugging on Thursday. Franklin hasn't had any problems when it comes to power this season, having averaged 0.8 home runs per game. However, it's not like Pebble Hills struggles in that department as they've been averaging 0.5 home runs. With so much power on both teams, it'll be down to the pitchers to keep the mound locked down.
Franklin suffered a grim 16-7 defeat to Pebble Hills in their previous meeting two weeks ago. Can the Cougars avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
