The Centralia Orphans are taking a road trip to take on the Fairfield Mules at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Centralia's pitching crew has only allowed four runs per game this season, so Fairfield's hitters will have their work cut out for them.
Marion hit Centralia with a four-run seventh inning on Tuesday, which goes a long way in explaining the final result. The Orphans fell 6-2 to the Wildcats. The home team had taken home the W every time these teams have met since April 23, 2024, but that streak is no more.
Centralia saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Archie Goewey, who went 1-for-3 with one home run.
The home team had won the previous four meetings between Fairfield and Norris City-Omaha-Enfield, and Fairfield kept the tradition alive. The Mules came out on top in a nail-biter against the Fighting Cardinals on Tuesday, sneaking past 5-3. The win continues a trend for the Mules in their matchups with the Fighting Cardinals: they've now won six in a row.
Jake Easton made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he pitched three innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than two hits in three consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, going a perfect 2-for-2 with one stolen base and two RBI. That's the most hits he has posted since back in March.
In other pitching news, Caleb King looked comfortable as he tossed two innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. He has been consistent: he hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances.
Fairfield hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Norris City-Omaha-Enfield struck out eight times.
Fairfield's victory was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 13-8. Those home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.3 runs on average over those games. As for Centralia, their loss ended a three-game streak of wins at home and dropped them to 13-10.
Centralia took their victory against Fairfield when the teams last played back in May of 2023 by a conclusive 15-3 score. Do the Orphans have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Mules turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
