Ridgemont is 0-7 against Fairbanks since April of 2016 but things could change on Friday. The Golden Gophers will take on the Panthers at 5:00 p.m. Ridgemont is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7 runs per game this season.
Ridgemont will roll into the matchup after a wild two-game stretch: they only put up two runs last Thursday, then bounced right back against Vanlue on Thursday. The Golden Gophers put the hurt on the Wildcats with a sharp 13-1 win. The Golden Gophers' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
Jayden Sifrit made a splash no matter where he played. He pitched five innings while giving up just one earned run off four hits. What's more, he posted five strikeouts, the most he's had since back in April of 2024. He was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 1-for-3.
Maverick Dawson
| 04/10/25 vs Vanlue | 3 |
| 04/01/25 @ Mt. Gilead | 1 |
| 04/20/24 vs Houston | 1 |
| 04/15/24 @ Upper Scioto Valley | 1 |
| 04/13/24 vs Fairbanks | 1 |
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Maverick Dawson, who scored a run while going 3-for-3. Those three hits gave him a new career-high. Maddox Thompson also deserves some recognition as he scored his first runs of the season.
Ridgemont was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .452. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Vanlue only posted a batting average of .222.
Meanwhile, Fairbanks was not able to break out of their rough patch on Thursday as the team picked up their fourth straight defeat. They lost 8-1 to Greeneview.
Fairbanks' loss dropped their record down to 1-4. As for Ridgemont, the victory was their first at home , bumping their record up to 2-3.
Fairbanks' hitters will have their work cut out for them on Friday. Ridgemont has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 6.6 strikeouts per game. It's a different story for Fairbanks, though, as they've been averaging only 3 strikeouts. Will Ridgemont keep running through batters, or will the Panthers buck the trend?
Ridgemont suffered a grim 21-7 defeat to Fairbanks in their previous matchup back in April of 2024. Can the Golden Gophers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
