Alleman has gone a perfect 6-0 against Morrison recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Friday. The Pioneers will square off against the Mustangs at 4:30 p.m. Alleman is coming into the matchup hot, having won their last four games.
Alleman will bounce into Friday's game after beating Rock Island, who they had gone 2-7 against in their nine prior meetings. The Pioneers walked away with a 9-6 victory over the Rocks on Friday.
Kelly Honert looked comfortable as he pitched three innings while giving up just one earned (and two unearned) runs off four hits. He has been consistent for a while: he hasn't given up more than two walks in 14 consecutive appearances.
Cael Kuster
| 05/16/25 vs Rock Island | 3 |
| 05/15/25 vs East Dubuque | 1 |
| 05/14/25 vs Quincy | 1 |
| 05/13/25 vs Riverdale | 1 |
| 05/12/25 @ Quincy | 0 |
| + 7 more games |
On the hitting side, Alleman let Cael Kuster and Jackson Smith run wild. Kuster went 3-for-4 with three runs and one RBI, while Smith went 2-for-4 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run. That's the most runs Kuster has posted over his last 12 contests. Nolan Buchen was another key player, going 2-for-3 with one stolen base and two RBI.
Alleman hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. The team has now struck out at least four batters in nine consecutive matchups.
Meanwhile, Morrison had just enough and edged out Amboy 2-1 on Wednesday. The win continues a trend for the Mustangs in their matchups with the Clippers: they've now won three in a row.
Carson White made a splash while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, pitching seven innings while giving up just one earned run off five hits. White was also solid in the batter's box, getting on base in all four of his plate appearances.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Kamden White, who went 2-for-3 with one stolen base, one run, and one double. Another player making a difference was Ayden Meinsma, who got on base in two of his three plate appearances with one stolen base and one run.
Alleman's record now sits at 26-9. As for Morrison, their record is now 11-9.
Friday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Alleman has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .437. However, it's not like Morrison struggles in that department as they've averaged .455. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Alleman was able to grind out a solid victory over Morrison in their previous matchup back in May of 2024, winning 7-2. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Pioneers since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
