Hardaway is 2-8 against Columbus since March of 2018 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Friday. The Hardaway Hawks will square off against the Columbus Blue Devils at 5:30 p.m. Hardaway will aim to continue their three-game streak of scoring more runs each match than the last.
Hardaway is headed in fresh off scoring the most runs they have all season. They put the hurt on Kendrick with a sharp 21-3 win on Tuesday. The Hawks haven't had any issues with the Cherokees recently, as the game was their seventh consecutive victory against them.
Gabriel Ruiz looked comfortable as he struck out seven batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. That's the first time he hasn't allowed a single hit since back in March of 2024.
At the plate, Hardaway let Ryan Rodriguez and Bobby Gary run wild. Rodriguez scored three runs and stole five bases while getting on base in all three of his plate appearances, while Gary went a perfect 1-for-1 with one home run, four RBI, and two runs. That's the most runs Gary has posted since back in March of 2024. The team also got some help courtesy of Tay Shaun Williams, who scored two runs and stole four bases while getting on base in both of his plate appearances.
Hardaway always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .844. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Meanwhile, Columbus might've scored the first runs on Wednesday, but it was St. Anne-Pacelli who claimed the real prize. Columbus fell just short of St. Anne-Pacelli by a score of 9-7. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest defeat the Blue Devils have suffered since March 18, 2024.
Michael Nottleman made the most of his time at bat despite the final result and got on base in three of his four plate appearances with one home run, two runs, and two RBI. That home run marked the first that he launched this season. Another player making a difference was Jamari Blackmon, who scored two runs and stole a base while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances.
Hardaway's record now sits at 7-2. As for Columbus, they have traveled a rocky road recently having lost three of their last four games. That's put a noticeable dent in their 2-5 record this season.
Columbus' pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Hardaway has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .558. It's a different story for Columbus, though, as they've only averaged .330. Will they be able to contain Hardaway's hitters?
Hardaway suffered a grim 10-0 defeat to Columbus when the teams last played back in March of 2022. Can Hardaway avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
