Baseball Game Preview: Joplin Eagles vs. Pryor Tigers

Joplin hasn't had much luck against Pryor recently, but that could start to change on Friday. Joplin will face off against Pryor at 1:30 p.m. Both come into the match bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

Last Tuesday, Joplin earned a 6-1 victory over St. Mary's-Colgan.

The home team had won the previous three meetings between Pryor and Skiatook, and Pryor kept the tradition alive. Pryor came out on top against Skiatook by a score of 6-1 on Thursday.

Gavin Roberts spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered only one earned run on three hits and racked up nine Ks. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances.

At the plate, Pryor got a big performance out of Brock Ward, who got on base in all four of his plate appearances with one stolen base, one double, and one RBI. Another player making a difference was Riley Hurst, who scored two runs and stole a base while getting on base in all four of his plate appearances.

Joplin's first win this season bumped their record up to 1-2. As for Pryor, their record now sits at 9-4.

Joplin couldn't quite get it done against Pryor in their previous matchup back in March of 2024 as they fell 3-0. Can Joplin avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.