Saint Mary hasn't had much luck against Albany recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Panthers will be playing at home against the Cougars at 4:00 p.m. The two teams each escaped (but just barely!) with wins against their previous opponents.
Saint Mary's is headed into the game having just posted their closest victory since April 10, 2024 on Thursday. They came out on top against Piedmont by a score of 10-9 (the very same score they lost by in their prior game). The game was the first time the Panthers have beaten the Highlanders on their field since April 19, 2016.
Zoe Buckner and Aoife Shen did most of the damage at the plate: Buckner went 2-for-3 with four stolen bases, four runs, and one triple, while Shen went 3-for-4 with four stolen bases, three runs, and one double. That's the most runs Buckner has posted since back in March. London Crawford was another key player, going 2-for-4 with three runs, one triple, and one double.
Meanwhile, Albany had just enough and edged out De Anza 9-8 on Wednesday. The win continues a trend for the Cougars in their matchups with the Dons: they've now won six in a row.
Tehya Hancock was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She tossed three innings while giving up just two earned (and three unearned) runs off four hits. She has been consistent: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in five consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-3 with two runs and one stolen base.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Jasmin Araica, who went 2-for-3 with three RBI, one stolen base, and one run. That stolen base marked the first that she has snagged this season. Another player making a difference was Evelyn Mulen Ca?o, who went 2-for-3 with two runs, one triple, and two RBI.
Albany's victory bumped their record up to 8-9. As for Saint Mary's, their win bumped their record up to 6-10.
Saint Mary's might still be hurting after the 11-5 defeat they got from Albany when the teams last played back in March. Will the Panthers have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
