Leopards
| 03/06/26 @ Crystal River | 10 |
| 02/28/26 vs Nature Coast Tech | 4 |
| 02/26/26 @ Lecanto | 11 |
| 02/24/26 @ Nature Coast Tech | 1 |
| + 4 more games |
Hernando has gone 9-1 against Springstead recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Tuesday. The Leopards will welcome the Eagles at 7:00 p.m. Hernando is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.8 runs per game this season.
Hernando barely beat Crystal River the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Leopards blew past the Pirates 10-2 on Friday. The victory continues a trend for the Leopards in their matchups with the Pirates: they've now won six in a row.
Sammy Novick looked comfortable as he pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up a single earned run in three consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Austin Knierim was excellent, going 1-for-3 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI. That's the most runs he has posted since back in May of 2025. Kaine Ellis was another key player, going 2-for-3 with two RBI.
Hernando was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .375. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Crystal River only posted a batting average of .160.
Springstead came out on top against Central on Friday thanks in part to the team's impressive four-run fourth inning. The Eagles walked away with a 7-2 win over the Bears.
Matthieu Opolski-Roe made a big impact while hitting and pitching. He tossed 2.1 innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. He also tossed a walk, which is notable because Springstead is 2-1 when he allows at most one walk, but 2-5 otherwise. Opolski-Roe was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two runs, one triple, and one double. That triple was his first of the season.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Connor Smith, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with three RBI, one run, and one double. Carlos Vega also deserves some recognition as he snagged his first stolen base of the season.
Springstead's victory bumped their record up to 4-6. As for Hernando, their win bumped their record up to 7-2.
Springstead's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Hernando has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .485. It's a different story for Springstead, though, as they've only averaged .328. Will they be able to contain Hernando's hitters?
Hernando got the 'W' in their previous matchup back in April of 2025 against Springstead by a conclusive 7-1 score. Will the Leopards repeat their success, or do the Eagles have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
