Orange is 2-7 against La Quinta since March of 2015 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Friday. The Panthers will challenge the Aztecs at 3:00 p.m. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Orange took a loss when they played away from home last Wednesday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Wednesday. They blew past Estancia 17-0. That 17 run margin sets a new team best for the Panthers this season.
Orange got a massive performance out of Liliana Nunez, who went a perfect 4-for-4 with two stolen bases, five RBI, and two runs. That's the most stolen bases Nunez has posted since back in March. Anabelle Alvarado also deserves some recognition as she hit her first triple of the season.
Orange always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .730. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
La Quinta came out on top against Westminster on Monday thanks in part to the team's impressive seven-run first inning. The Aztecs sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 9-8 win over the Lions.
Bella Ballesteros and Kailey Huynh did most of the damage at the plate: Ballesteros went 1-for-3 with one triple, one run, and one RBI, while Huynh went 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run. Raellie Faatuga was another key player, going 3-for-4 with one run.
Orange has been performing well recently as they've won four of their last five matches. That's provided a massive bump to their 5-10 record this season. The victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.6 runs over those games. As for La Quinta, their record now sits at 6-9.
La Quinta's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Orange has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .462. It's a different story for La Quinta, though, as they've only averaged .310. Will they be able to contain Orange's hitters?
Orange skirted past La Quinta 3-1 when the teams last played two weeks ago. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Panthers since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
