Baseball Game Preview: Tempe Buffaloes vs. Desert Sunrise Golden Hawks

For the second straight game, Tempe will face off against Desert Sunrise. The Buffaloes will host the Golden Hawks at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. Tempe has given up an average of 15.7 runs per game this season, but Thursday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.

Tempe fell victim to Desert Sunrise and their airtight pitching crew on Tuesday. They came up short against the Golden Hawks, falling 16-0. Having soared to a lofty 19 runs in the game before, the Buffaloes' shutout was a dramatic turnaround.

For Desert Sunrise's part, Isaac Sanchez looked comfortable as he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out nine over four innings pitched. Sanchez also tossed no earned runs, which is notable because the Golden Hawks are undefeated when he allows at most one earned run, but 3-5-1 otherwise.

At the plate, Brayden Tracy was a standout: he scored three runs and stole two bases while getting on base in all three of his plate appearances. He has become a key player for Desert Sunrise: the team is undefeated when he posts at least two stolen bases, but 3-5-1 otherwise. Another player making a difference was Jacoby Garcia, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 2-for-3.

Desert Sunrise always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .536. They are 3-1 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.

The win was the fourth in a row for Desert Sunrise, bringing their record up to 6-5-1. The victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 13.8 runs over those games. As for Tempe, their defeat dropped their record down to 3-10.