The Cowan Blackhawks will face off against the Knightstown Panthers at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Cowan 3.9, Knightstown 2.6) so any runs scored will be well earned.
On Tuesday, Cowan beat Monroe Central 5-2. The Blackhawks have beaten the Golden Bears the last three times they've met, but they better watch out: this was the closest the Golden Bears has come to flipping the script.
Gentry Groves
| 04/22/25 @ Monroe Central | 2 |
| 04/15/25 @ Randolph Southern | 1 |
| 04/10/25 vs Eastern Hancock | 1 |
| 04/08/25 @ Union City | 0 |
Gentry Groves spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered two runs (both of which were unearned) on three hits and racked up eight Ks. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Jaydon Auker and Luke Garrett did most of the damage at the plate: Auker went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one double, while Garrett went a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBI, one run, and one double. Auker has been hot recently, having posted two or more stolen bases the last three times he's played. Jake Self also deserves some recognition as he brought in his first RBI of the season.
Meanwhile, after soaring to 11 runs the game before, Knightstown was a bit more limited in their matchup on Wednesday. They lost 9-2 to Alexandria-Monroe. The contest marked the Panthers' lowest-scoring game so far this season.
Knightstown saw four different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Braylon Johnson, who went 2-for-3 with one RBI.
Cowan's victory was their sixth straight on the road dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 5-2. The road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.5 runs over those games. As for Knightstown, their defeat was their first of the season and makes their record 7-1.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Thursday as neither team is afraid to steal. Cowan has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 4.6 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Knightstown struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 4.4 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Cowan suffered a grim 21-5 defeat to Knightstown in their previous meeting back in April of 2024. Will the Blackhawks have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
