The Franklin Wildcats will look to defend their home field on Saturday against the Rocklin Thunder at 11:00 a.m. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Franklin 3.3, Rocklin 2.5) so any runs scored will be well earned.
Rocklin is facing Franklin at the wrong time: Franklin suffered their first home loss of the season on Friday and they're likely out for redemption. They wound up with the same score they had in their last game (3-2), but sadly the team found themselves on the wrong side of the score this time.
Nolan Manaois and Dylan Minnatee stepped up to the plate in a big way. Manaois went 2-for-3 with one triple and one run, while Minnatee went 2-for-4 with one triple and one run.
Rocklin came out on top against Davis Sr. on Thursday thanks in part to the team's impressive four-run fifth inning. The Thunder sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 4-2 win over the Blue Devils.
Andrew Hancock tossed a big game, pitching five innings while giving up just one earned run off two hits. What's more, he posted five strikeouts, the most he's had over his last four games.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Colby Pudge, who went 1-for-4 with one home run and two RBI. Matthew Janowiak also deserves some recognition as he hit his first double of the season.
Rocklin pushed their record up to 19-5 with the victory, which was their fifth straight on the road. The road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 7.0 runs over those games. As for Franklin, their defeat dropped their record down to 18-6.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Saturday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Franklin has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 6.9 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Rocklin struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 7.1 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Franklin might still be hurting after the 7-1 loss they got from Rocklin in their previous matchup back in May of 2024. Will the Wildcats 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.
