Franklin has gone 9-1 against Oak Ridge recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Friday. The Wildcats will take on the Trojans at 4:00 p.m. Franklin is coming into the game hot, having won their last four games.
Franklin is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Wednesday. They put the hurt on Folsom with a sharp 11-2 victory. Considering the Wildcats have won 11 matchups by more than five runs this season, Wednesday's blowout was nothing new.
Tyler Cody made a big impact no matter where he played. On the mound, he tossed 1.2 innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than two walks in seven consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, going 3-for-4 with one triple. That's the most hits he has posted since back in April.
In other pitching news, Dylan Wood tossed a big game, striking out nine batters over 5.1 innings while giving up just two earned runs off four hits. That's the most strikeouts he has posted since back in April.
Brandon Williams
| 05/07/25 vs Folsom | 4 |
| 04/22/25 vs Pleasant Grove | 2 |
| 03/26/25 @ Laguna Creek | 2 |
| 03/04/25 vs Oak Ridge | 2 |
| 04/30/25 vs Cosumnes Oaks | 1 |
Back at the plate, Brandon Williams was a standout: he went 1-for-3 with one home run and four RBI. Those four RBI gave him a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Royal McKinney, who went 3-for-4 with three runs, one double, and one RBI.
Franklin kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 14 hits. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their hit total in three consecutive contests.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Oak Ridge, who bounced back after a loss on the road last Tuesday. They skirted past River City 7-5.
Ryan Hubbard and Ben Ransi did most of the damage at the plate: Hubbard went 1-for-3 with one home run and four RBI, while Ransi went 3-for-4 with two runs and one triple. Oak Ridge is undefeated when Hubbard posts three or more RBI, but 9-15 otherwise. The team also got some help courtesy of Noah Teply, who went 2-for-4 with two runs and one stolen base.
Franklin's win bumped their record up to 22-7. As for Oak Ridge, their victory bumped their record up to 12-15.
Oak Ridge's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Franklin hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .329. It's a different story for Oak Ridge, though, as they've only averaged .235. Will they be able to contain Franklin's hitters?
Franklin beat Oak Ridge 4-1 when the teams last played back in March. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Wildcats since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
