The Columbus Blue Devils are taking a road trip to take on the Brookstone Cougars at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, the two teams will really light up the scoreboard.
While Columbus' win against Hardaway wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. Columbus had just enough and edged out Hardaway 11-10 on Tuesday. The victory continues a trend for the Blue Devils in their matchups with the Hawks: they've now won seven in a row.
The team relied heavily on Axel Serra, who went 1-for-2 with one home run and two RBI. That home run was his first of the season. Walker Bridges was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 2-for-3.
Serra wasn't the only one working in the hit department: Columbus kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. That's the most hits they've posted since back in March of 2024.
Meanwhile, Brookstone waltzed into their matchup on Wednesday with four straight wins... but they left with five. They were the clear victors by a 14-1 margin over the Raiders. The Cougars might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won seven games by ten runs or more this season.
Gray Jones was a standout: he went a perfect 2-for-2 with one home run and five RBI. Those five RBI gave him a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Maxwell Jones, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with four RBI, two runs, and one double.
Columbus' record now sits at 12-9. As for Brookstone, their win was their 11th straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 12-2.
Thursday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Columbus has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .433. However, it's not like Brookstone struggles in that department as they've averaged .443. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Columbus suffered a grim 12-1 defeat to Brookstone in their previous meeting back in February. Can Columbus avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
