Baseball Game Preview: Escalon Cougars vs. Linden Lions

Escalon is 0-10 against Linden since April of 2018 but things could change on Monday. A feisty cat fight will be fought as the Cougars take on the Lions at 3:30 p.m. Escalon's pitching crew has only allowed 3.6 runs per game this season, so Linden's hitters will have their work cut out for them.

Escalon easily dispatched Buhach Colony on Wednesday, but unfortunately both the margin and the ultimate result were a different story in this one. Escalon fell just short of Livingston by a score of 7-5 on Friday.

Zach Wells

Earned Runs

02/28/25 @ Livingston	0
02/25/25 vs Merced	1
02/19/25 @ Grace Davis	1
02/14/25 vs Bret Harte	1

Escalon got a good showing from Zach Wells, who pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. Wells has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than one earned run in four consecutive appearances.

At the plate, Logan Huebner was cooking despite his team's loss, getting on base in three of his four plate appearances with one home run and three RBI. That's the most RBI he has posted since back in April of 2024. Cole Fox also deserves some recognition as he brought in his first RBI of the season.

Meanwhile, Linden came up short against Sutter on Wednesday, falling 7-1. The Lions have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.

Linden also got a good showing from Justin Sales, who tossed 2.2 innings while giving up no earned runs off three hits.

Linden's defeat dropped their record down to 2-2. As for Escalon, their loss dropped their record down to 5-3.

The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Monday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Escalon has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 9.5 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Linden struggles in that department as they've been averaging 8.5 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.

Escalon couldn't quite finish off Linden when the teams last played last Tuesday and fell 3-1. Can Escalon avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.