vs
| 04/05/24 - Away | 13-4 W |
| 04/13/23 - Home | 13-3 W |
| 04/27/22 - Away | 14-3 W |
| 03/28/22 - Home | 10-0 W |
| 05/08/19 - Home | 4-8 L |
| + 5 more games |
Armstrong and Schlarman are an even 5-5 against one another since May of 2017, but likely not for long. The Trojans will welcome the Hilltoppers at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Armstrong 2.1, Schlarman 2.2) so any runs scored will be well earned.
Armstrong took a loss when they played away from home on Monday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Tuesday. They had just enough and edged out Seeger 2-1.
Traxton Roberts was excellent, scoring a run and stealing two bases while going 2-for-3. Another player making a difference was Ryan Edwards, who scored a run and stole a base while going 1-for-2.
Meanwhile, Schlarman never let their opponents score on Wednesday. They blew past Urbana 13-0. With that victory, the Hilltoppers brought their scoring average up to 7.2 runs per game.
Marc Villaester made a big impact while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only one hit while striking out six over five innings pitched. Villaester was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 2-for-4. He also put up a double, which was his first of the season.
In other batting news, Schlarman got a massive performance out of Jerrius Atkinson, who went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, one triple, and two RBI. That's the most stolen bases Atkinson has posted since back in April of 2024. Miles Crosby was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing two bases while going 2-for-3.
Armstrong pushed their record up to 5-2 with the win, which was their fourth straight at home dating back to last season. Those home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 8.0 runs over those games. As for Schlarman, their win ended a seven-game drought on the road dating back to last season and puts them at 2-2.
Friday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Armstrong has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .440. However, it's not like Schlarman struggles in that department as they've averaged .484. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Armstrong took their victory against Schlarman when the teams last played back in April of 2024 by a conclusive 13-4 score. Do the Trojans have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Hilltoppers turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
