The Pima Roughriders will venture away from home to take on the Miami Vandals at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. The last three games Pima has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.
On Wednesday, it was close, but Pima sidestepped Gilbert Classical Academy for a 9-7 victory.
Preston Russell was incredible, going 2-for-4 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. That's the most hits he has posted since back in April of 2024. Another player making a difference was Aiden Alder, who scored two runs and stole two bases while going 2-for-4.
Meanwhile, it may have taken eight innings to finish the job, but Miami ultimately got the result they hoped for on Tuesday. They came out on top in a nail-biter against Ray, sneaking past 13-11. The win was a breath of fresh air for the Vandals as it put an end to their 11-game losing streak.
Ethan Guthrey made a big impact no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, tossing seven innings while giving up four earned (and six unearned) runs off nine hits. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than one walk in four consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, going 2-for-5 with two RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Cooper Gore, who scored three runs while getting on base in five of his six plate appearances. He also put up two doubles, which were his first of the season. Mason Gore was another key player, scoring three runs while getting on base in four of his six plate appearances.
Miami kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. That's the most hits they've managed all season.
Pima's record is now 5-7-1. As for Miami, their record now sits at 2-13.
Everything went Pima's way against Miami in their previous meeting back in April of 2024, as Pima made off with an 11-0 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Roughriders since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
