vs
| 05/14/24 - Neutral | 3-0 W |
| 04/18/24 - Away | 10-0 W |
| 05/27/23 - Home | 7-1 W |
| 04/20/23 - Away | 14-8 W |
| 03/23/23 - Home | 9-0 W |
| + 5 more games |
Mount Union is a perfect 10-0 against West Branch since April of 2019 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Wednesday. The Trojans will welcome the Warriors at 4:30 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
West Branch will take on a team with plenty of momentum: Mount Union extended their winning streak to six on Monday. The Trojans were the clear victors by a 19-7 margin over Southern Huntingdon County. The Trojans' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
Cody McClain made a big impact while hitting and pitching. He tossed 2.2 innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than one earned run in three consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, scoring two runs and stealing a base while getting on base in two of his four plate appearances. That stolen base marked the first that he snagged this season.
In other batting news, Abe Weirich and Dylan Shawver did most of the damage at the plate: Weirich went 3-for-4 with one home run, four RBI, and one triple, while Shawver went 3-for-4 with one home run, three runs, and three RBI. That's the most RBI Shawver has posted since back in April of 2024. Jamon Ranck was another key player, scoring three runs and stealing a base while going 2-for-3.
Mount Union always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .605. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their OBP total in three consecutive contests.
Meanwhile, West Branch got the win against Moshannon Valley on Monday by a conclusive 12-2. The victory continues a trend for the Warriors in their matchups with the Black Knights/Damsels: they've now won four in a row.
Like Mount Union, West Branch also got a great game from a two-way player: Lukas Colton. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out ten batters over six innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off three hits. West Branch is undefeated when Colton allows three or fewer hits, but 1-2 otherwise. Colton was also solid in the batter's box, scoring three runs while going 2-for-3.
In other batting news, Logan Liptak was excellent, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 2-for-3. Another player making a difference was Kaleb Warren-Kio, who scored a run while going 2-for-4.
Mount Union's win was their fourth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 8-2. Those road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.3 runs over those games. As for West Branch, their win bumped their record up to 4-2.
Wednesday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Mount Union hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .321. However, it's not like West Branch struggles in that department as they've averaged .367. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Mount Union beat West Branch 3-0 in their previous meeting back in May of 2024. Do the Trojans have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Warriors turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
