Baseball Game Preview: Lakeland Dreadnaughts vs. Hernando Leopards

The Lakeland Dreadnaughts will square off against the Hernando Leopards at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. One thing working in Lakeland's favor is that they have posted at least ten runs in their last three contests.

If Lakeland beats Hernando with 15 runs on Friday, it's going to be the team's new lucky number: they've won their past two matches with that exact score. Lakeland blew past Bartow 15-3 on Thursday. The Dreadnaughts haven't had any issues with the Yellow Jackets recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive victory against them.

ELI MILLER was a major factor no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, tossing four innings while giving up just one earned run off three hits. That's the fewest hits he has allowed since back in April of 2024. He was also big at the plate, scoring a run and stealing Two bases. while getting on base in all four of his plate appearances. That's the most stolen bases he has posted since back in April of 2024.

EDRICK AYALA

Hits (Career)

03/13/25 @ Bartow	4
03/11/25 vs Davenport	2
03/04/25 @ Auburndale	2
02/20/25 @ Mulberry	2
02/20/25 vs Lake Region	2

In other batting news, EDRICK AYALA was incredible, scoring a run and stealing Three bases. while going 4-for-4. Those four hits gave him a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of CARTER MASLYN, who scored three runs and stole a base while going 3-for-4.

Lakeland was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .500. They are a perfect 6-0 when they post a batting average of .375 or better.

Meanwhile, Hernando fought the good fight in their extra-innings game against South Sumter on Thursday but wound up with a less-than-desirable result. They fell just short of the Raiders by a score of 8-6. The Leopards' defeat signaled the end of their eight-game winning streak.

Lakeland's win bumped their record up to 8-5. As for Hernando, their loss dropped their record down to 8-3.

Lakeland was able to grind out a solid victory over Hernando in their previous matchup back in March of 2024, winning 5-2. Does Lakeland have another victory up their sleeve, or will Hernando turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.