Lincoln hasn't had much luck against Franklin recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Tigers are taking a road trip to take on the Panthers at 3:00 p.m. Lincoln is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8 runs per game this season.
Lincoln proved they can win big last Wednesday (they won by 16) and on Wednesday they proved they can win the close ones too. They won by a run and slipped past Marshall 7-6. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Tigers have posted since May 9, 2025.
Melody Martinez
| 04/15/26 @ Marshall | 7 |
| 04/08/26 @ Huntington Park | 5 |
| 03/25/26 vs Marquez | 6 |
Melody Martinez made a splash while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out seven batters over five innings while giving up just one earned (and five unearned) runs off seven hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in three consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one run, one double, and one RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Gladys Barajas, who went 2-for-4 with four RBI, one triple, and one run. That triple marked the first that she has hit this season. Another player making a difference was Val Vences, who went 2-for-3 with two runs, two doubles, and one RBI.
Lincoln kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They are a perfect 4-0 when they post 11 or more hits.
Meanwhile, Franklin fell victim to Eagle Rock and their airtight pitching crew on Wednesday. They came up short against the Eagles, falling 16-0.
Lincoln has been performing well recently as they've won four of their last five games. That's provided a massive bump to their 4-3 record this season. The victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 11.2 runs over those games. As for Franklin, their loss dropped their record down to 1-8.
Lincoln came out on top in a nail-biter against Franklin when the teams last played back in May of 2025, sneaking past 4-3. Will the Tigers repeat their success, or do the Panthers have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
