Baseball Game Preview: Taylorville Tornadoes vs. Springfield Southeast Spartans

The Taylorville Tornadoes are taking a road trip to face off against the Springfield Southeast Spartans at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. Taylorville is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.4 runs per game this season.

Mattoon hit Taylorville with a five-run third inning on Saturday, which goes a long way in explaining the final result. The Tornadoes lost 9-2 to the Greenwave. The game marked the Tornadoes' lowest-scoring matchup so far this season.

Springfield Southeast came out on top against Pawnee on Friday thanks in part to the team's impressive five-run third inning. The Spartans took their contest against the Indians 6-3.

M Leininger spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered only one earned (and two unearned) runs on six hits. He has been consistent: he hasn't given up more than two walks in six consecutive appearances.

At the plate, B Twist was excellent, going a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs and one double. Those four hits gave him a new career-high. Another player making a difference was C Murphy, who got on base in three of his four plate appearances with one run and one RBI.

Springfield Southeast's win bumped their record up to 7-14. As for Taylorville, this is the second loss in a row for them and nudges their season record down to 10-6.

The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Monday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Taylorville has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.1 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Springfield Southeast struggles in that department as they've been averaging 6.7 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.

Taylorville took their victory against Springfield Southeast in their previous matchup back in May of 2023 by a conclusive 13-4 score. Do the Tornadoes have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Spartans turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.