The Lakewood Ranch Mustangs will take on the Braden River Pirates at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. Lakewood Ranch is coming into the contest on a five-game losing streak.
Lakewood Ranch came into this matchup off a tough six-run defeat on Friday. This time they kept things ultra-competitive, but unfortunately the final result was the same. They fell just short of Palmetto by a score of 4-2 on Tuesday. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest loss the Mustangs have suffered against the Tigers since March 25, 2021.
Chase Skarbek
| 04/01/25 vs Palmetto | 2 |
| 03/25/25 @ Parrish Community | 0 |
| 03/20/25 vs Sarasota | 1 |
Chase Skarbek spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered three earned (and one unearned) runs on eight hits. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Carter Sprague made the most of his time at bat despite the final result and scored a run and stole two bases while going 3-for-4. He is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as he's now snagged at least one in each of the last three games he's played.
Meanwhile, Braden River was able to grind out a solid win over Manatee on Friday, taking the game 8-5. The Pirates haven't had any issues with the Hurricanes recently, as the game was their third consecutive victory against them.
Braden River also let their pitcher toss all seven innings and he was also dialed-in: Rhys Klein gave up four earned (and one unearned) runs on seven hits and racked up ten Ks.
At the plate, Brayden Sands was incredible, scoring a run while going 2-for-3. Sam Heintz was another key player, scoring a run while going 2-for-3.
Braden River kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They are a perfect 3-0 when they post 11 or more hits.
Lakewood Ranch's defeat dropped their record down to 5-14. As for Braden River, their win bumped their record up to 10-8.
Lakewood Ranch came up short against Braden River in their previous matchup back in February, falling 5-2. Will the Mustangs have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other baseball content.
