The Fairdale Bulldogs will square off against the Brown Bears at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Fairdale has given up an average of 12.4 runs per game this season, but Tuesday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Butler hit Fairdale with a 11-run first inning on Saturday, which goes a long way in explaining the final result. The Bulldogs lost 14-6 to the Bears. That's two games in a row now that the Bulldogs have lost by exactly eight runs.
Landon Webb was cooking despite his team's loss, going 2-for-3 with one home run, two RBI, and one double. That home run marked the first that he has launched this season. Another player making a difference was Trey Kelly, who went 1-for-3 with two runs, two RBI, and one double.
Meanwhile, Brown came tearing into last Wednesday's contest with four straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 8.8 runs), and they left with even more momentum. They were the clear victors by a 10-4 margin over the Warriors. Considering the Bears have won ten matches by more than five runs this season, Wednesday's blowout was nothing new.
Quinn Gallagher made a splash no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out 12 batters over seven innings while giving up three earned (and one unearned) runs off three hits. Those 12 strikeouts gave him a new career-high. He was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run. He has been hot recently, having posted at least one stolen base the last four times he's played.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Oscar Wright, who went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, three runs, and one triple. Wright is crushing it when it comes to stolen bases: he's snagged at least one every time he's taken the field this season. Jamison Calloway was another key player, going 2-for-4 with four stolen bases, two runs, and two RBI.
Brown's win was their seventh straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 12-3. The home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 13.9 runs over those games. As for Fairdale, they have been struggling recently as they've lost 19 of their last 22 games. That's put a noticeable dent in their 7-25 record this season.
Tuesday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Fairdale has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .456. However, it's not like Brown struggles in that department as they've averaged .532. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
