Baseball Game Preview: Howard Tech Hustlin' Tigers vs. Sale Creek Panthers

Howard Tech hasn't had much luck against Sale Creek recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Howard Tech Hustlin' Tigers will host the Sale Creek Panthers at 2:00 p.m. Howard Tech has given up an average of 10.7 runs per game this season, so hopefully the team got some pitching drills in this week.

Howard Tech is headed into Friday's matchup looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their third straight game on Thursday. They lost 30-3 to Sequoyah.

Howard Tech saw two different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Sean Besley, who scored two runs while going 1-for-1.

Meanwhile, Sale Creek had just enough and edged out Grundy County 5-4 on Thursday. That's two games straight that the Panthers have won by just one run.

Jackson McClendon was excellent, going 1-for-3 with one home run. Christopher Broome also deserves some recognition as he got his first hit of the season.

The win made it two in a row for Sale Creek and bumps their season record up to 6-1. They've had to fight for that success though, as they only beat their opponents by an average of one runs across that stretch. As for Howard Tech, their defeat dropped their record down to 3-3-1.

Friday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Howard Tech has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .463. However, it's not like Sale Creek struggles in that department as they've averaged .434. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.

Howard Tech suffered a grim 12-0 defeat to Sale Creek when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Can Howard Tech avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.