Baseball Game Preview: Mansfield Summit Jaguars vs. Joshua Owls

For the second straight game, Mansfield Summit will face off against Joshua. The Jaguars will host the Owls at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Mansfield Summit has a tough task ahead: they'll enter the contest with five straight defeats, while Joshua will come in with three straight victories.

Joshua hit Mansfield Summit with a five-run first inning on Tuesday, which goes a long way in explaining the final result. The Jaguars came up short against the Owls, falling 14-4.

For Joshua's part, Nathaniel Chittum was a standout: he went a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, two stolen bases, and three runs. Those three hits gave Chittum a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Hank Berkner, who got on base in all four of his plate appearances with two stolen bases, three RBI, and two runs.

Joshua always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .613. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Mansfield Summit only posted an OBP of .458.

Mansfield Summit's loss dropped their record down to 11-8. As for Joshua, their win bumped their record up to 11-5.

Friday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Mansfield Summit has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .454. However, it's not like Joshua struggles in that department as they've averaged .449. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.