Baseball Game Preview: Gateway Gators vs. Franklin Regional Panthers

Gateway is 1-9 against Franklin Regional since April of 2019 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Thursday. The Gators will face off against the Panthers at 4:00 p.m. Gateway is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.8 runs per game this season.

Gateway is headed into Thursday's contest looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their third straight game on Tuesday. They lost 8-1 to Baldwin.

Meanwhile, it was a proper cat-fight when Franklin Regional took on Greater Latrobe on Wednesday. The Panthers fell just short of the Wildcats by a score of 9-8. The Panthers have struggled against the Wildcats recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive lost meeting.

James Templeton was a force to be reckoned with on the mound despite the final result: he tossed five innings while giving up just one earned (and three unearned) runs off four hits. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in three consecutive appearances.

At the plate, Luke Williams was cooking despite his team's loss, going 2-for-3 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. That home run marked the first that he launched this season. NJ Ramchandran was another key player, scoring three runs and stealing a base while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances.

Gateway's defeat dropped their record down to 6-6. As for Franklin Regional, their loss dropped their record down to 7-3.

Thursday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Gateway has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .436. However, it's not like Franklin Regional struggles in that department as they've averaged .453. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.

Gateway might still be hurting after the 21-0 defeat they got from Franklin Regional in their previous matchup back in April of 2024. Can the Gators avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.