Carlsbad and San Marcos are an even 5-5 against one another since May of 2022, but likely not for long. The Lancers will challenge the Knights at 4:00 p.m. on Monday. The last four games Carlsbad has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.
On Friday, Carlsbad sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with an 8-6 win over Poway. The victory continues a trend for the Lancers in their matchups with the Titans: they've now won nine in a row.
Jett Kenady made a big impact no matter where he played. He pitched one inning while giving up no earned runs off one hit. Kenady was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with two runs, one double, and one RBI.
Liam Stigers
| 05/02/25 vs Poway | 3 |
| 03/04/25 vs Sage Creek | 2 |
| 04/23/25 @ La Costa Canyon | 1 |
| 04/21/25 @ La Costa Canyon | 1 |
| 04/18/25 vs Torrey Pines | 1 |
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Liam Stigers, who went 1-for-4 with five stolen bases and three runs. Those three runs gave him a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Tyler Ward, who got on base in three of his four plate appearances with one run.
Meanwhile, San Marcos hadn't done well against Rancho Bernardo recently (they were 2-7 in their previous nine matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Friday. The Knights sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 7-6 win over the Broncos. Give some credit to the fans of both teams: the last four times they've met, the home team has come away the winner.
Isaac Esquer spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered six earned runs on eight hits and racked up six Ks. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in three consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Colton Walker and Ethan Martinez did most of the damage at the plate: Walker got on base in all three of his plate appearances with two runs, while Martinez got on base in three of his four plate appearances with two RBI and one double.
Carlsbad's victory was their fourth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 15-8. They've had to fight for that success though, as they only beat their opponents by an average of 1.25 runs across that stretch. As for San Marcos, they have been performing well recently as they've won five of their last six contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 16-5-1 record this season.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Monday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Carlsbad has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.4 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like San Marcos struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 6.7 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Carlsbad skirted past San Marcos 2-1 when the teams last played back in May of 2024. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Lancers since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
