Baseball Game Preview: Rusk Eagles vs. Center Roughriders

Rusk is 8-2 against Center since April of 2018 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Friday. The Eagles will be playing at home against the Roughriders at 7:00 p.m. Center took a loss in their last game and will be looking to turn the tables on Rusk, who comes in off a win.

On Thursday, Rusk narrowly escaped with a win as the squad sidled past Madisonville 9-8.

Trent Byars

Runs (Career)

04/17/25 vs Madisonville	2
03/08/25 vs Diboll	1
02/27/25 vs Pollok Central	1
02/17/25 vs Arp	1
02/17/25 vs Arp	1

Trent Byars and Maleki Overstreet did most of the damage at the plate: Byars earned one RBI, two runs, and one stolen base, while Overstreet went 1-for-2 with two runs and two RBI. Those two runs gave Byars a new career-high. Trenton Pepin was another key player, going 1-for-3 with two RBI and one run.

Meanwhile, Center was not able to break out of their rough patch on Thursday as the team picked up their eighth straight loss. They fell 6-1 to Hudson. The home team had taken home the W every time these teams have met since April 17, 2021, but that streak is no more.

Center saw five different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Easton Wulf, who went 2-for-4 with one run. Jayden Lane also deserves some recognition as he hit his first double of the season.

Center's defeat dropped their record down to 5-13. As for Rusk, they now have a winning record of 12-11.

Rusk beat Center 3-0 in their previous meeting back in March of 2024. Will the Eagles repeat their success, or do the Roughriders have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.