The Citrus Hill Hawks will square off against the Rancho Verde Mustangs at 3:15 p.m. on Thursday. Citrus Hill is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.5 runs per game this season.
Citrus Hill is probably headed into the matchup with a chip on their shoulder considering Moreno Valley just ended the team's three-game winning streak on Tuesday. They fell just short of the Vikings by a score of 10-9.
Alyssa Lupercio was cooking despite her team's loss, going 2-for-4 with three RBI and one double. Jaylenne Jauregui was another key player, scoring two runs while going 2-for-3.
Meanwhile, Rancho Verde came tearing into Tuesday's game with four straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 9.5 runs), and they left with even more momentum. They were the clear victors by an 8-2 margin over the Lancers. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest win the Mustangs have posted against the Lancers since March 14, 2019.
Isabelle Sena made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out eight batters over six innings while giving up just one earned run off two hits (and not a single walk). She has been consistent : she hasn't given up more than two walks in seven consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 3-for-3.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Jaylen Anderson, who scored three runs while going 1-for-3.
Rancho Verde's victory was their ninth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 11-3. Those home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.7 runs on average over those games. As for Citrus Hill, their defeat dropped their record down to 8-5.
Thursday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Citrus Hill hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .325. However, it's not like Rancho Verde struggles in that department as they've averaged .362. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Citrus Hill came up short against Rancho Verde when the teams last played back in March of 2024, falling 8-3. Can the Hawks avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
