The Paul Laurence Dunbar Bulldogs will face off against the St. Xavier Tigers at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. The last four games Paul Laurence Dunbar has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.
Having struggled with three losses in a row, Paul Laurence Dunbar turned things around against Bryan Station on Friday. They came out on top against the Defenders by a score of 4-3 (the very same score they lost by in their prior game). The home team had taken home the W every time these teams have met since April 10, 2018, but that streak is no more.
Chris Hunt looked comfortable as he pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than one hit any time he's pitched this season.
At the plate, Max Elias was excellent, scoring a run while going 2-for-2. That's the most hits he has posted since back in April of 2024. The team also got some help courtesy of Tyler Baker, who scored a run and stole a base while going 1-for-3.
Meanwhile, St. Xavier didn't have quite enough to beat Lexington Catholic on Thursday and fell 6-5. The loss put an end to the Tigers' undefeated start to the season.
St. Xavier also got a good showing from Mason Nett, who tossed four innings while giving up just one earned run off four hits.
On the hitting side, Kyle Krupp made the most of his time at bat despite the final result and scored a run while going 2-for-4. Jaxon Coomer was another key player, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 1-for-4.
Having lost for the first time this season, St. Xavier fell to 2-1. As for Paul Laurence Dunbar, their win bumped their record up to 2-3.
Saturday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Paul Laurence Dunbar has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .448. However, it's not like St. Xavier struggles in that department as they've averaged .479. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Paul Laurence Dunbar suffered a grim 15-0 defeat to St. Xavier in their previous meeting back in May of 2021. Can Paul Laurence Dunbar avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
