Baseball Game Preview: Industrial Cobras vs. Lytle Pirates

The Industrial Cobras will take on the Lytle Pirates on Thursday. Industrial's pitching crew has only allowed 3.4 runs per game this season, so Lytle's hitters will have their work cut out for them.

Industrial is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Friday. They came out on top against Poth by a score of 4-1. The Cobras haven't had any issues with the Pirates recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive win against them.

Easton Larew spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered a run (which was unearned) on four hits.

At the plate, the team relied heavily on Cooper Francis, who went 2-for-4 with one triple, one run, and one RBI. That triple was his first of the season. The team also got some help courtesy of Major Larew, who went 2-for-4 with two runs.

Meanwhile, Lytle got themselves on the board against Great Hearts Northern Oaks on Saturday, but Great Hearts Northern Oaks never followed suit. They were the clear victors by a 7-0 margin over the Griffins. The Pirates might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won 11 games by seven runs or more this season.

Lytle is on a roll lately: they've won nine of their last ten contests. That's provided a massive bump to their 20-11 record this season. The victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.4 runs over those games. As for Industrial, their win bumped their record up to 17-8.

Thursday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Industrial has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .442. However, it's not like Lytle struggles in that department as they've averaged .448. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.

Industrial skirted past Lytle 2-0 in their previous meeting back in May of 2021. Do the Cobras have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Pirates turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.