Eastwood will face off against Toledo Christian at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. The two teams each escaped (but just barely!) with wins against their previous opponents.
On Friday, Eastwood needed a bit of extra time to put away Oak Harbor. They came out on top in a nail-biter against the Rockets, sneaking past 9-8. The Eagles haven't had any issues with the Rockets recently, as the game was their eighth consecutive win against them.
Drew Kachmarik was a major factor no matter where he played. He tossed 3.2 innings while giving up no earned runs off four hits. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up a single earned run in five consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, going 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBI.
In other batting news, Paul Lautzenheiser and Colton Woodward did most of the damage at the plate: Lautzenheiser went 2-for-4 with one home run and two runs, while Woodward went 2-for-4 with three runs and one double. That home run was Lautzenheiser's first of the season. Cam Schumaker was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and one double.
Meanwhile, Toledo Christian posted their closest victory since April 20, 2024 on Thursday. They had just enough and edged out Northwood 6-4. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Eagles.
Like Eastwood, Toledo Christian also got a great game from a two-way player: Tyler Grace. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out 11 batters over 6.1 innings while giving up four earned runs off only one hit. Those 11 strikeouts gave Grace a new career-high. He was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one home run, two stolen bases, and three RBI. Toledo Christian is 2-1 when Grace posts three or more RBI, but 1-4 otherwise.
In other batting news, Bryson Quinn was excellent, going 2-for-3 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI. Another player making a difference was Connor Egbert, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI and one double.
Eastwood's win bumped their record up to 7-2. As for Toledo Christian, their victory bumped their record up to 3-5.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Saturday as neither team is afraid to steal. Eastwood has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.4 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Toledo Christian struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 3.1 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Eastwood suffered a grim 10-0 defeat to Toledo Christian when the teams last played back in April of 2017. Will Eastwood have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
