The Crown Point Bulldogs will take on the Munster Mustangs at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. Both teams are coming into the game red-hot, with Crown Point sitting on six straight victories and Munster on four.
On Saturday, Crown Point got the win against Northridge by a conclusive 11-1. Considering the Bulldogs have won 14 matches by more than six runs this season, Saturday's blowout was nothing new.
Northridge's batters probably weren't too happy with Logan Johnston, who pitched a no hitter and racked up six Ks (he gave up a single walk). Johnston has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than one hit in six consecutive appearances.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Sean Dunlap, who went 3-for-4 with three runs, one triple, and two RBI. The team also got some help courtesy of Mick Vagner, who went 2-for-4 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI.
Crown Point always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .514. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Northridge only posted an OBP of .053.
Munster came out on top against Crete-Monee on Tuesday thanks in part to the team's impressive four-run fifth inning. The Mustangs took their contest against the Warriors 5-1.
Ed Kicho looked comfortable as he pitched one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits.
On the hitting side, Donovan Craig was excellent, going a perfect 3-for-3 with two stolen bases and one run. Another player making a difference was Kobe Shelton, who went 2-for-4 with one double and one RBI.
Crown Point pushed their record up to 25-4 with the win, which was their 12th straight at home. The home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.0 runs over those games. As for Munster, their win bumped their record up to 17-11.
Friday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Crown Point hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .339. However, it's not like Munster struggles in that department as they've averaged .348. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Crown Point skirted past Munster 2-0 when the teams last played back in April. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Bulldogs since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
